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Members of the fire department make soup plates during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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MB firefighter recieves a cooler as a door prize during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Members of Realty South's team help serve lunch during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders enjoy a lunch break together during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Police officer recieves a sweater as a door prize during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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The real estate team cooked and baked numerous dishes during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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The annual soup Souperheroes first responders Luncheon held on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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The team at Realty South listens to Chief Mullins's "thank you" for hosting the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Police officer recieves a door prize during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Service members recieve door prizes from local merchants during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Door prizes from local merchants offered. during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Realty South welcomes first responders into their office during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders recieve door prizes from local merchants during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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The dessert table provides an array of treats during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Door prizes were provided from various local merchants during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Gift cards were handed out as door prizes during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders enjoyed an array of desserts during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Realty South team hands out door prizes during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Realty South team hands out door prizes during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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The door prizes during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responder enjoy a lunch break during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Members of the real estate team give out door prizes from local merchants during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Mountain Brook Fire Department Chief Mullins and friends from Realty South during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders enjoy a lunch break during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders get lunch during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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First responders eat lunch during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Members of Realty South's team help serve lunch during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Police officer recieves a door prize during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Real estate agent takes a photo with the officer who retrieved her son's car during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
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Real estate agents entertain the first responders during the Souperheroes first responders Luncheon on Dec. 3, 2024 at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook. Photo by Savannah Schmidt.
Come each December, Mountain Brook first responders know that a hot soup lunch and cheery company will be waiting for them at RealtySouth in Mountain Brook Village.
At this year's RealtySouth Souperhero Luncheon, real estate agents and office staffers cooked crockpots of soup, buttery cornbreads and finger-licking desserts. From 11 a.m.- 1 p.m., members of the Mountain Brook Police Department, Fire Department and other emergency response teams stopped by for a warm lunch break.
Real estate broker Jan Camp started the tradition at RealtySouth in 2016. While many humble first responders may think a simple "thank you" is enough, Camp decided to go above and beyond. "It's a way to show our appreciation to people," she said.
"I think sometimes we take it for granted," Camp said. "You see it on the news when first responders pass tragically. We forget that every morning they walk out their door, they may not walk back in."
Seeing the faces of each first responder walk through the doors of RealtySouth, the agents attain a refreshed perspective on the value of their service. One particular agent, Caroline Ezelle, recalled that just recently, a Mountain Brook police officer helped find her son's stolen car. At the luncheon, she took a photo with him and expressed the depth of her gratitude with a warm meal and good company.
The luncheon is also a time for the first responders to feel honored by the merchants of Mountain Brook Village. The realty team organizes a door prize drawing for gifts provided by different local businesses. If the generosity of the prizes were an indicator of the merchant's appreciation, the first responders certainly felt cherished by their community.
"The merchants in Mountain Brook are amazing," Camp continued. "We have door prizes and some years we almost get enough for every first responder."
The unbreakable bond between businesses like RealtySouth and the Mountain Brook first responders grows ever more firm with each reminder of their daily sacrifice.
