Gainey, Pittsburgh firefighters hand out free winter coats to students

Every day of the week, fifth-grader Jaiden Harper walks a few blocks to get to classes at Helen S. Faison Arts Academy in Homewood.

This year, the late-autumn cold hasn’t been so bad. Jaiden still took his time Friday morning to pick out the right winter coat.

One was small, one too big. The puffy-armed black one fit just right.

“It feels good, it feels cozy inside,” said Jaiden, 11, of Homewood. “I like this one because it will be comfier.”

Jaiden joined dozens of Faison students as they walked up to a table Friday morning to receive free winter coats from Mayor Ed Gainey and a battalion of Pittsburgh firefighters.

The Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local #1 union has been raising money, then buying and hand-delivering winter coats for kids in need since 2011, said firefighter Sean O’Leary, a lieutenant in #8 Engine in East Liberty.

This year, firefighters broke records, raising $45,000 in donations, the highest single-year total to date, the fundraisers said. Among others, they received donations from Duquesne Light and MSA Safety, which manufactures safety products for firefighters and those in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, O’Leary said.

Working with Operation Warm, a national nonprofit, the firefighters bought more than 2,200 winter coats, he said. They started distributing them Nov. 19, handing out some 1,100 coats in one day at their Hazelwood union hall. Faison was their latest stop.

“It’s different from other coat drives — these aren’t donated, they’re brand-new coats,” said O’Leary, 41, who lives in Brookline. “The goal now is to just get ‘em out.”

Gainey worked the crowd of students and administrators, getting children shouting thanks to the firefighters and cheering for Santa Claus.

“I want them to hear this Downtown,” Gainey laughed.

The mayor appeared focused on the Faison students trying on coats. He frequently walked into gathering crowds of the young kids, helping them get their arms into coats or shouting over the noisy crowd for a different size or color.

“I’m happy to be here,” Gainey said. “We’re gonna give all kids some coats who want a new coat!”

“We know this winter will be extra warm with these coats,” added principal Russell Patterson, Ph.D., who’s worked at Faison for 13 years now.

Firefighters from throughout the city came out Friday to help rip the plastic off the new coats and get them on kids’ backs.

Matt Roell came from Mt. Washington’s #27 Engine station. He spent eight of his first 10 years as a Pittsburgh firefighter in #17 Engine on Homewood’s Hamilton Avenue, just two turns away from this K-8 public school.

“Until we get out all the coats, we’re always looking around seeing where we can hand them out,” said Roell, 30, who also lives in Brookline.

Friends and fellow fifth-graders Serenity Rodgers and Jodie Taybron giggled as they showed off their new coats to each other.

“This is comfy!” said Jodie, 10, of Homewood.

“I just want to say, ‘Thank you!’” added Serenity, 10, of Homewood.

Firefighter Tim Leech also has roots in Homewood. The vice president of Pittsburgh Fire Fighters IAFF Local #1 started his 18-year run as a city firefighter in #17 Engine in Homewood.

“We’re excited,” said Leech, 41, of Brookline. “And it’s great timing, a week before Christmas, getting brand-new coats out to children who need them.”