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Parade Thank You Pandemic — Giant employees wave and cheer as a Lower Saucon Township Police SUV passes by their store Thursday. Township police, Hellertown Police, local volunteer fire companies and ambulance crews participated in the parade to show their support for the store’s workers, many of whom are emotionally drained from working long hours during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was a flood of emotion in a local supermarket parking lot Thursday, as area first responders held a brief “thank you” parade for staff who have been working tirelessly to help keep shelves stocked and local families fed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Several dozen police, fire and EMS vehicles with sirens flashing and horns blaring participated in the no-contact, noontime parade outside the Leithsville Road Giant.

Lower Saucon Township Police Chief Tom Barndt said was organized at the suggestion of the store’s manager, who felt the show of support would help cheer up workers who are emotionally and physically exhausted from working long hours under extremely stressful conditions, with no real end in sight.

Also participating in the parade were Hellertown Police, Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, Steel City Volunteer Fire Company and Dewey EMS, who gathered at the Saucon Valley High School student parking lot for the three-minute drive to the Giant shopping center.

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Some participants held homemade “Thank You” signs from sunroofs as the parade passed in front of the store, where dozens of Giant employees had gathered to watch it.

Due to requirements for social distancing there was no gathering held afterward and the parade only lasted a few minutes, but the smiles it clearly brought will last a lot longer.

Saucon Source would also like to salute the front line retail workers, first responders, medical and health care professionals, and everyone else who is working so hard to help keep essential businesses open and to save lives during the coronavirus pandemic.