Community Revives Christmas Eve Dinner for Pa. Firefighters

Dec. 25--With a plate heaping with chicken, pork and rice in front of him, Lt. Brian Thorpe of the Reading Fire Department smiled only slightly while his fellow firefighters joked around him.

He was too busy enjoying the food to do much more.

The hot meal, provided by members of First Path of Holiness Inc., hit the spot for Thorpe and the other on-duty personnel Tuesday afternoon at the Spring and McKnight streets fire station, especially after the group had to respond to a major house fire a few hours earlier.

The Rev. Olga Moreira said the church often holds a community meal around the holidays for those in need. But as she pondered the spirit of the season this year, Moreira felt it was also important to recognize those who have jobs that serve others.

"This is a very dangerous job and even though you have a job we still want to show you our appreciation," she said.

The meal revived a tradition from the 1950s, when the church would serve first-responders a Christmas Eve luncheon. Moreira said she hopes to make it a new tradition, especially since it helps the church be more involved in the community.

"We don't want to be a church in a box," she said. "The church has to be in the community. We're always praying for the community and for the firefighters and police."

While only a handful of volunteers from the church were at the firehouse serving the meal, Moreira said many hands helped in providing the food.

One church member donated two whole pigs while the C-Town Supermarket at Sixth and Greenwich streets gave ingredients for rice pudding and the El Gallito bakery at Ninth and Oley streets provided a cake.

"We told them it was for the firemen and they didn't give it a second thought," Moreira said.

The meal was greatly appreciated by the roughly 20 firefighters, especially after many missed out on breakfast to put out the house fire on Marion Street.

"It's good food and, you know, they didn't have to do it," firefighter Tim Sullivan said to firefighter Michael Biancone, who was just preparing to dig into his meal.

Deputy Chief Thomas Kemery said the meal, and the opportunity to meet the members of the church, meant a lot to the fire department.

"It's always good, with everything going on, for the community to be involved," Kemery said. "It's important for folks to understand it's not our city, it's not their city, but it's everyone's city."

Contact Stephanie Weaver: 610-371-5042 or [email protected].

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