It’s a program that bridges the gap between community members and first responders. It highlights the good things — the acts of kindness that illustrate an effort above and beyond that of normal responsibility.

The Beaufort County Police Activities League gears up for its annual first responders awards program, inviting people in the community to nominate those who have gone above the call of duty in their service, that which raises the bar beyond job descriptions.

“Some would comment, “Oh, that’s what (first responders) are supposed to do; it’s their job,’” said Al Powell, president of PAL. “But this is for people showing acts of kindness over and above what their job dictates.”

The Beaufort County PAL’s mission is just what the program portrays — a means of bridging the gap between the community and first responders, particularly law enforcement, according to Powell. The organization pushes this agenda through its many marquee programs and activities it hosts throughout the community.

But the awards program takes it a little bit further. Through nominations, first responders come to the realization that the community does, in fact, care about them and appreciate their daily sacrifices, putting their life on the line to serve the community, according to Powell.

The program was created last year, as a component to complement the Beaufort County PAL Dinner Dance, an annual fundraiser for its mission.

Powell said with so much negativity running rampant throughout the nation, a program such as the opportunity for the community to recognize first responders in the area encourages them to continue their efforts.

“The fact is first responders need to be shown some appreciation,” Powell said. “You can only put your life on the line for people you don’t even know so much when there is this much negativity across the nation and people aren’t hearing about the humanitarian acts of kindness first responders are exhibiting. This is being proactive. We just felt like this was appropriate given the nature of our nonprofit. “

Powell said the program also puts management of first responders on notice that the community is taking note of the humanitarian acts and gestures of kindness shown toward the community.

“It’s imperative that programs like this be implemented so the first responders know the people do care about them and still have trust in them,” Powell said. “We felt it was a very appropriate mechanism to let the first responders know the community does appreciate what they’re doing.

“We’re hoping this type of public awareness coming from the community, rather than law enforcement agencies themselves, which is important, will help to recruit additional candidates for first responder careers, who’ll be looking at jobs from a standpoint of saving lives, service and kindness and compassion in service to those they don’t even know, regardless of race, ethnicity or sex.”

Last year, PAL, along with officials and representatives from departments in the area, decided to create four awards to present. With larger departments like the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, more calls and response and covering more ground means a higher chance of nominations. Out of that consideration came the idea of placing organizations with 15 employees or more in a bracket of its own and a bracket designed for those with less than 15 employees, as well as separating first responders and law enforcement. Two sets of awards — Law Enforcement Officer of the Year-Community Service and First Responder Community Service Award — will be given, one of each for large departments and one of each for small departments, Powell said.

Members of the community are asked to submit nominations for any law enforcement officials or first responders — EMTs, firefighters, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or other organization — that have gone above and beyond the call of duty to provide a community service or act of kindness while doing their job, Powell said.

Residents are asked to submit nominations for the awards by email, mail or by phone. The nominations will be reviewed by a committee of PAL directors and staff members, who will select who they believe has demonstrated the best examples of diversity, understanding, compassion, trust and good community relations between Nov. 1, 2015 and Sept. 29, 2016, according to a BCPAL press release. Citizens can provide their names or submit forms anonymously, but should provide: the name of the person they want to recognize; the department the individual works for; the date(s) of the event; a brief but detailed description of what was done by the responder; and why this action represented an outstanding example of community service. The deadline for submissions is Sept. 30, and awards will be given at the BCPAL Dinner Dance on Oct. 15.

To submit a name for one of the four awards: email beaufortcountypal@hotmail.com; or write a letter to BCPAL, 310 West Main St., Peterson Building, Suite 202D, Washington, NC, 27889. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 30, 2016.