A local church community is giving back to first responders.

Instead of baking Christmas cookies, the ladies at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altoona decided to make something a little heartier.

Member of the social ministry committee baked lasagnas for police and fire companies in the community.

Some of the women said they got up at 5:30 on Wednesday morning to start making meat sauce and cooking the pasta.

The committee started doing this as a way to give back to many first responders and let them know how grateful the community is for their service.

“There’s so much we could say, but thank you just really says it all,” church member Sharon Kutz said.

The group delivered the lasagnas on Wednesday afternoon, fresh from the oven, along with some dinner rolls.