GRAND BLANC, MI – Students visited local first responders this week to thank them for their service, particularly the response to a deadly church attack that rocked the Grand Blanc community last year.

A group of more than 20 students from Grand Blanc West Middle School delivered nearly 200 gift bags containing snacks and thank you notes to the Grand Blanc city and township police and fire departments on Thursday, Sept. 24.

The deliveries were part of a school-wide service-learning project.

“It means a lot because I get to hang out with all these special people,” said Ellie Chesnut, 12, a seventh-grader who noted her father Erik Chesnut is a firefighter with the Southfield Fire Department. “I’m so happy to be thanking the police department and firefighters because I know how hard it is.”

The notes delivered Thursday featured words of support and appreciation as well as drawings, including one of a fire truck.

“It just shows kindness and to show that we care about this and we’re grateful for them” seventh-grader Madison Wyman, 12, said.

The deliveries come just days before the anniversary of the Sept. 28, 2025, shooting and arson attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, which left five people dead, including the shooter, and destroyed the building.

The church is set to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for its new meetinghouse on Monday, Sept. 28, the anniversary of the attack. The ceremony will be broadcast live on YouTube.

“A lot of times people forget after so much time what transpired,” Grand Blanc Fire Chief Don Schreiber II said. “They kind of push it down. But for these guys to do this, it lets us know that we’re not forgotten. Our efforts aren’t forgot.”

Lt. Jon Swartz helps lead the Grand Blanc Township Police Department’s wellness program.

Swartz said he’s been checking on officers with the anniversary of the church attack approaching, making the timing of the deliveries ideal.

He added that he worked as a school resource officer within Grand Blanc Community Schools for nearly a decade.

“It was a nice surprise” Swartz said. “We don’t always have that positive context, so its huge.”

As they dropped off gift bags, students were able to see inside of the local fire and police department facilities.

Each student also received a challenge coin from the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department.

“It’s been really nice to see that they appreciate the gifts, and it’s really cool that they’re giving us little tokens and trinkets and tours of facilities,” said Jenny Abdella, the teacher of the class that made the deliveries. “All of their smiles kind of make it worth it, the kids and adults alike.”

Grand Blanc West Middle School band teacher Jake Finkbeiner coordinated the project with help from the school’s principal, Diana Balbaugh, Abdella said.

In addition to Thursday’s deliveries, Schreiber said the department received thank you messages from community members in the aftermath of the church attack.

“I’m just really overwhelmed by the generosity and the warmth that this community gives to its public service personnel,” he said.

The students who made the deliveries are part of the school’s Grand Blanc Unified group, which includes students with special needs and general education students, Abdella said.

The class takes part in a variety of sports, including handball, as well as board games. The program has been at the middle school for about five years and is also available at Grand Blanc High School.

“We build relationships through sports,” Abdella said. “It’s nice for them to feel seen and treated just like everyone else.”

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