MILLCREEK — A group of senior citizens stormed police stations in Millcreek and Holladay on Friday afternoon armed with walkers, smiles and bags of candy to give to police officers.

"We’re celebrating the policemen,” Rosemary Yuhasz said, "because they’re worth every bit of the celebration we can give them.”

Yuhasz, 94, was joined by 10 fellow residents of The Wellington assisted living center in Salt Lake City to deliver candy to officers at the stations. Additional residents at the assisted living center helped assemble the "survival kit" candy bags.

"We had a lot of fun putting that candy together for them," Yuhasz said.

She made sure she gave each of Millcreek's police officers a long hug.

Susan Miller, the center's activities assistant, suggested the idea to show support to police because she's been upset about how police around the country have been treated recently.

"My father was a police officer for 36 years, and I’m sick about how things have been in the world and how people have treated you," she told officers. "So we wanted to show you that we love you and we support you, and we’re behind you and we appreciate everything you do for everybody.”

More than 80 candy bags were put together by senior residents in the span of a couple of weeks, according to Holly Smith, activities director at The Wellington.

"We’ve been concerned about what’s going on in the country and we wanted to send our support," Smith said.

Officers at both stations were grateful for the considerate gesture.

"This is just outstanding," Unified Police Sgt. Jeff Evans said at the Millcreek station. "The fact that they all got together and were thinking of us, it means a lot. … It made our day too."

Unified police officer Danny Diehl said his grandmother is a resident at The Wellington. He said it was sweet to receive a candy bag assembled by her.

"It’s great to know that the community is out there for us, Diehl said. "We appreciate that."

As the elderly women left the Millcreek station, the officers made a point to shake each of their hands.

"Everybody participated," resident Phyllis Sims said. "It was really a nice event to get together and do it."

Email: astilson@deseretnews.com