Brnaya Luther (left), 10, tries on a jacket as Everett Fire Department’s Don Schwab sorts through other sizes during a coat giveaway by firefighters union, Local 46, at Hawthorne Elementary School in Everett on Friday. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Brnaya Luther (left), 10, tries on a jacket as Everett Fire Department’s Don Schwab sorts through other sizes during a coat giveaway by firefighters union, Local 46, at Hawthorne Elementary School in Everett on Friday. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Everett firefighters bring warmth to kids with new coats

EVERETT — Oleta Johnson knew she wanted a blue coat. Her glasses are purple, but she likes all bright colors.

“Blue reminds me of water, and I love swimming,” she said.

Oleta swam with her grandmother in a river once, when she was 5.

She got the new coat at school Friday. The Everett firefighters union, Local 46, distributed them to all the fifth-graders at Hawthorne Elementary.

The effort was part of Operation Warm, a national coats-for-kids campaign. Everett firefighter Mike Morton sees people in need every day. The jackets were another way for the firefighters to give back, they said.

They helped each child write his or her name inside with permanent marker.

Tony Rader-Losee’s choice of yellow was driven by Pokemon GO, the smartphone game that caused a craze last summer. He’s been playing it ever since, on the yellow team.

The new coat was a surprise, Douglas Ysawa said. He put it on over his T-shirt. It was warm and comfortable, he said.

Yamoni Chasey-Clark mulled pink before going for purple. “My mom’s going to be happy,” she said.

Winter coats are always in demand, Principal Celia O’Connor-Weaver said. According to the state, nearly 90 percent of Hawthorne students come from low-income households.

The gifts were appreciated, she said.

Alexander Moran-Solorzano was thinking about the cold mornings when he sometimes walks to school instead of getting a ride. He thanked Seth Albright, an acting fire captain and a driver, for helping him.

“It’s good to meet some firefighters,” Alexander said.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @rikkiking.

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