December 19, 2019
Bastiaan Slabbers/for PhillyVoice
First and second grade students of John Welsh Elementary School in North Philadelphia.
Christmas came early for students at John Welsh Elementary School in North Philadelphia on Thursday morning as the Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Local Union 22 hosted its annual “Operation Warm: New Coats for Kids” event in the school’s cafeteria.
Brand-new, warm winter coats were distributed to 75 first and second grade students by Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel, Firefighters Local 22 President Mike Bresnan, officers of Local 22, Philadelphia City Councilmembers Cherelle Parker and Isaiah Thomas, and Philadelphia's Mixed Martial Arts UFC Champion Eddie Alvarez.
“The International Association of Firefighters voted unanimously at its 2012 convention in Philadelphia to support Operation Warm and Local 22 is proud to be carrying on the tradition with our friends on City Council and Eddie Alvarez,” said Local 22 President Mike Bresnan. “Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing children shivering on their way to school because they don’t own something as basic as a warm winter coat. We hope people will open their hearts and their wallets, so that we can give Philadelphia children a Christmas gift of warmth in the form of a new winter coat they can call their own."
Since Operation Warm was founded in 1998, the non-profit has provided new winter coats to more than two million children nationwide. Last year, Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Union Local 22 distributed more than 300 new coats to disadvantaged Philadelphia children.
Below are photos from the event.
Students of John Welsh Elementary School gather into the cafeteria to receive brand-new winter coats, courtesy of Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Local Union 22. i
Officers and members of the Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedic Local Union 22 prepare to distribute coats to students.
First and second grade students receive winter coats at the “Operation Warm: New Coats for Kids” event.
Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel distributes helmets to students at the “Operation Warm: New Coats for Kids” event.
Councilman-Elect Isaiah Thomas chats with a student who received a new coat at the event.
A student receives a warm coat and high-five during the coat giveaway.
A paramedic helps a student try on a new winter coat at the giveaway event.
