First Responders Honored at Sixth Annual Appreciation Night

The event started small, but has now grown to fill the Avalon Events Center.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – On September 18, the Avalon Events Center hosted the sixth annual First Responders Appreciation Night.

When Tahnee Young first decided to put something together to honor the sacrifices first responders made during the height of the pandemic, she had no idea it would become so popular.

“We wanted to just say we support you, we’re behind you,” she explained. “It kinda just started out as one thing we wanted to do that was nice, and they were like, hey, are you guys doing this next year? And we were like, sure!”

Now, in 2025, the program has become so popular that they’ve had to upgrade to a massive ballroom at the Avalon to make sure everyone is accommodated.

Kayla Cross is a volunteer with the Mapleton Fire Department.

She’s been attending since the beginning, and she’s also stunned to see the event’s growth.

“I just think having a venue like this brings more people together, so I love that we get to interact with our law enforcement friends, our paramedic friends, our dispatcher friends, everyone who’s in the first responder world,” she said.

There’s a free meal, and door prizes for everyone – plus competitions for some of the bigger-ticket items.

The first responders say they leave the evening feeling seen and appreciated, while those who put it together say it’s the least they can do.

“This is nothing compared to what they do for us every day,” said Young.

The First Responders Appreciation Night team says that even though this is an annual event, their fundraising and volunteer efforts go on year-round.

So if you’d like to contribute, you can do so at any time.