Gregg House kids warmed by Lynn firefighters

LYNN – The gifts didn’t come via reindeer-driven sleigh in the middle of a Silent Night, but by fire engines with sirens blazing Friday afternoon, as local and state firefighters distributed winter jackets to local kids.”It’s a tremendous help,” said Barbara Boyd. “I’m a single parent, out on disability, and this time of year is tough, and they grow so fast. My daughter’s already grown two sizes this year.”Lynn was one of four communities selected by the state firefighters union to receive winter coats distributed through Operation Warm, a non-profit that donates free, new winter coats to children in need. Firefighters statewide donated $13,000 for the coats, and an anonymous donor contributed an additional $10,000 – enabling firefighters to buy approximately 700 winter jackets.Two hundred of the jackets were donated to children at Gregg House on Broad Street, which serves 525 kids from infants to kids age 13 every day with after-school, preschool and other programs.”We are truly blessed to have people like the Lynn Firefighters Union and the State Firefighters Union to do things like this for us,” said Kelly O’Connor, director of Gregg House. “The parents are truly appreciative of what they have done for them.”The kids were appreciative too. They waited in the gym with eyes wide open as the firefighters carried boxes of brightly colored winter parkas into the gym and arranged the boxes by sizes.The kids even sang Happy Birthday to Ed Kelly, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, the state union.Then groups of kids ran to pick out their coats.”I picked purple because it’s my favorite color,” said Mikayla Cruz, 8, as she wore her new coat despite the heated gym.The firefighters were appreciative too.”Thank you for having us come here,” Lynn Fire Chief Jim McDonald told the kids. “I hope (the coats) keep you warm.”