More than 60 restaurants and businesses did their part this week to help an officer injured in the line of duty earlier this month.
They participated in Dine Out for Arnold Police Officer Ryan O’Connor.
Restaurants from all over the St. Louis area pledged to donate a percentage of sales Wednesday night to support Officer O'Connor and his family after he was shot on the job in early December.
To see a list of participating restaurants, click here.
Katie Zaitz-Fink organized the event. She organized similar events for the family of St. Louis County Officer Blake Snyder and Ballwin Officer Mike Flamion.
“Our communities will support our first responders,” she said. “They serve and protect us every day. We’re going to come back and serve and protect them when they need us.”
Zaitz-Fink stopped by one restaurant Wednesday night, Woodsmoke BBQ and Windowsills Pies in Ellisville. The owner of that restaurant is married to a police detective.
The restaurant was packed during the dinner rush. First responders like Matt Coppin of Metro West Fire Protection District stopped by on their dinner break.
“First responders, we’re all part of the same family” he said. “Even though I’ve never met [Officer O’Connor], it still kind of affects us and what we do.”
Barb Lyon has never met Officer O’Connor, either. That didn’t stop her from ordering some BBQ.
“I wanted to show my support for Officer O'Connor,” she said. “I believe in helping military, police, fire, you name it.”
A GoFundMe page started for the O'Connor family is about $5,000 shy of the $50,000 goal. For other ways to support the officer and his family, click here.
