A knock on the door from the police usually doesn’t bode well, but law enforcement officers came bearing gifts to 25 Suffolk families on Tuesday.

Members of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 41 delivered boxes of food — including turkey, vegetables, pies and other holiday favorites — to families in need of support.

“We do it to give back to the community,” said Allan Iversen, the president of the organization. “We like to make sure our community is taken care of and also see law enforcement as supporters of them and the community they live and work in.”

Recipients of the food said they were grateful to receive the help.

“It’s helping me in a time of need,” said Ashley Perry, mother of 1-year-old and 6-year-old boys, after she received her delivery.

Cynthia Johnson, also mom to two children, added her thanks.

“It’s a blessing,” she said. “I appreciate it.”

Before the food was donated, the law enforcement officers took delivery of the food at the North Main Street Farm Fresh store. Iversen said Farm Fresh has supported the Fraternal Order of Police’s various projects for 20 years, and he presented a plaque recognizing the store for its generosity.

“Over the years, the partnership has grown,” Iversen said. “We appreciate them helping out. They have been an awesome group of people.”

Iversen said the store puts together the baskets for the Christmas deliveries but also helps all year long, providing fruit baskets for the organization to send to sick or injured members and flowers for those in the hospital.

Some of the store’s vendors also help out, Iversen added.

One of the families helped this year has recently taken in extra family members, Iversen said.

“We know they can’t afford to feed seven or eight people when there’s normally two people in the household,” he said. “It’s just those things that make us all feel really good about what we’re doing.”