Volunteers : Helping hands : FOUNTAIN VALLEY : A Hearty ‘Thanks’ for Jobs Well Done

Diane Crowder went all out this holiday season to express thanks to the city’s firefighters, police officers and other employees for a job well done.

The Fountain Valley resident and her four daughters made 100 taquitos, plus rice, beans, a chicken tortilla casserole and a variety of Christmas cookies, brownies and lemon bars that they served at a special dinner Tuesday at City Hall.

“This is just a ‘thank you,’ ” said Crowder, 39, who had help from daughters Kristin, 12; Sara, 10; Kayla, 8, and Lauren, 7.

Said Kristin: “We just wanted to honor them for the things they do every day.”

Crowder herself was the recipient of an honor from the city earlier this year, when the Fire Department presented her with a heroism citation for pulling a man from a burning car and giving him CPR.

“She didn’t even consider the danger she put herself in until later,” Fire Marshal Ron Satterfield said.

Of this week’s holiday dinner, Satterfield said, “It made us feel that somebody really cares what you do. It’s not that we want a pat on the back, but it was nice somebody recognizes us.”