LAPLACE — Alarmed by images of angry people on her TV screen, 3-year-old Bella Angotti asked her mother what was happening.

Jamie had to gently explain to her little girl that there were some people who were angry with police, and that some people had been hurt and some police officers had been killed.

“I tried to put it in terms she would understand,” Jamie said. “She seemed to get it.”

Moved, Bella felt the need to do something for the police in her community.

“We need to help them,” Bella said, offering her life’s savings for the cause. “We should feed them.”

Starting with the $4 in her daughter’s piggy bank and with a generous donation from local SUBWAY sandwich shop owner and Councilwoman Raj Pannu, that’s exactly what the Angotti family did at the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office headquarters Wednesday morning.

The men and women of the St. John Sheriff’s Office were offered a smorgasbord of Subway sandwiches, cookies and water, along with hand-made thank you cards signed by Bella and her sister, Berkley, each of which came with Hershey’s Hugs and Kisses.

“I wanted to thank them,” Bella whispered in her mother’s ear, the answer to be relayed when asked why she wanted to do this for the local police.

“She’s used to feeding as a go-to,” Jamie explained. “We’re always doing things to feed the homeless and organizing food drives.”

It was the largest and perhaps most generous of an outpouring of appreciation directed towards the men and women in blue as protests and demonstrations have played out across the country, according to St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre.

“It started last weekend, just random acts of kindness for law enforcement, just the community wanting to let us know that they stand with us and they want to feel protected,” Tregre said.

“People just coming up to us and thanking us and several of my officers, telling me to tell my officers to be safe. I think this is the first meal, but this is not new for us. For us, in St. John, this happens quite a bit.”

Local businesses have been offering goods and services to many members of the force in recent days, including swamp tours, a gumbo dinner and complimentary massages.

Lt. Jason Raborn was one of four members of the SWAT team who had his lunch paid for by the owners of the local Frostop last week.

“When they saw us with our badges, they immediately said, ‘This is on us,’” Raborn said. “They shook our hands. They were very generous and very kind. It was amazing, after everything that’s been going on, for them to tell us ‘thank you for everything,’ was really nice.”

Jamie said her family is always quick to aid a person or a cause in their community. She moved to the area in 2012; her husband, John, a native of New York, has lived in LaPlace for about 13 years. Together they have often donated their time to feed the homeless and organize food drives.

“We teach (our children) by example. You love your neighbor no matter what,” Jamie said. “I think they’re getting it. Every time something happens they’re quick to say, ‘I want to help.’ Bella’s first food drive was when she was 9 months old.”

She said she felt the local police could use a boost.

“My husband and I want them to know that they are greatly appreciated,” Jamie said. “Every time they put on that uniform, they’re putting their lives in danger for us. It’s not just a job to them, it’s a calling.”

Tregre said his officers were grateful.

“We appreciate it,” Tregre said. “There’s nothing better than someone doing something good for someone. For citizens to come in and take care of us like this, I call this a good day at work.”