Honoring UMT First Responders

Monday, October 25 kicked off the 2nd annual First Responder Appreciation Week, an event honoring the men and women who keep our community safe, healthy and secure every day. As a show of appreciation, King of Prussia District, in partnership with Upper Merion Township, arranged for complimentary meals available to all Upper Merion police, fire and EMS staff and volunteers throughout the week at Swedeland Volunteer Fire Company.

The kickoff event welcomed members of the press, sponsors and first responders for brief remarks from Eric Goldstein of King of Prussia District, William Jenaway Chair of the Board of Supervisors of Upper Merion Township and Upper Merion Chief of Fire and EMS Dennis Rubin. Remarks were followed by lunch from locally-owned King of Prussia Diner and sweet treats from Kilwins.

“Thanking Upper Merion Township’s police, fire and EMS staff with meals throughout the week is a very small gesture, but an important message of sincere thanks from all of the businesses within King of Prussia District,” said Eric Goldstein, Executive Director of King of Prussia District. “It’s also a recognition that public safety is a bedrock of economic development and growth, which is the basis of our organization’s mission.”

Upper Merion Chair of the Board of Supervisors William Jenaway added “We have been through a hellacious 18-24 months in Upper Merion Township. I can’t say enough about the work that has been done by our comprehensive emergency services team…my fellow supervisors and I all feel so much pride in our emergency responders.”

Over the course of the week,175 first responders joined us for breakfast, lunch or dinner provided by King of Prussia staples honeygrow, Peppers by Amedeo’s, Dia Doce, Morgan’s Brooklyn Barbecue and Corner Bakery.

Huge thanks goes out to our sponsors who make this event possible and allow us to pay for these incredible meals: Lead Sponsor IBEW Local 98, Supporting Sponsors Anthology Senior Living, AVE King of Prussia, Best Western Plus The Inn at King of Prussia, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, King Shooter Supply, Morgan Properties, Radial, SERVPRO of King of Prussia, Tozour Energy Systems and UGI Corporation, and Friend Sponsors B. Pietrini & Sons, Bala Consulting Engineers and Brandywine Realty Trust.

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, we were able to donate $1,000 to each of the three Upper Merion fire stations for fire alarm giveaways and $3,800 to Upper Merion Area Community Cupboard (UMACC).