Area seniors step up to help first responders

WEST CHESTER >> The seniors residing at the Denney Reyburn project-based voucher apartments in West Chester Borough decided to make a difference. They recruited two of their community partners, First Presbyterian Church and Christ Church, and hosted a block party to benefit local first responders and their families.

“These seniors know they are some of our community’s most vulnerable citizens, living in a high-risk building with age-related challenges. So, they stepped up to help educate the West Ches

ter community on ways to respond to emergencies while raising funds for our volunteer firemen,” said Mayor Dianne Herrin. “I salute them.”

By demonstrating their

building evacuation plan, the seniors set an example for other senior communities. Their plan describes safety techniques, establishes escape routes and a buddy system, with hall captains, go bags, and exit checks.

The West Chester Fire Department, the West Chester Borough Police Department,

Good Fellowship Ambulance, Chester County, Chester County Hospital, and Gun Sense were all represented at the event, and they educated community members on first aid, Smart911, gun safety, and other related health and safety matters.

The seniors worked hard to make the event a lot fun,

with a picnic, music, water games, balloons, and raffles to raise money for the West Chester Fire Department. “Our first responders and their families ate and played for free as a well-deserved show of appreciation through the generosity of our West Chester neighbors and business community,” concluded Mayor Herrin.