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WILKES-BARRE — To local attorney Joseph Quinn, the Fourth of July means more than picnic food, fireworks and social gatherings.

Quinn, a senior partner at the Kingston law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn, says the day provides an opportunity to give back to the community.

And he gives back in a very big way, distributing some 2,000 free bicycle helmets to children 12 and under at the annual Independence Day celebration at Kirby Park.

The event, in its 10th year, is a program of the Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for Children’s Advocacy, also known as HKQ Kids, and is administered by The Luzerne Foundation.

“To whom much is given, much is required,” said Quinn. “We have been given much, and it’s our pleasure to help others.”

For 10 years, Quinn said, the event has been made possible by the support of his law partners and all the firm’s employees.

“This year, we are expanding the event to Lackawanna County,” Quinn said. “At first, I questioned if we would have enough volunteers to do that, but everyone was more than happy to step up.”

HKQ Kids will be holding its second helmet giveaway this Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. on Courthouse Square in Scranton. ​

Carol Stevens, of Wilkes-Barre, said she had read about the helmet giveaway and made a special trip to the park with her grandson, Ethan Stevens, to grab one.

“Not only do we get a quality helmet,” she said. “But we got a nice little backpack and a balloon, too.”

Across the park, John Moran, of Larksville, and granddaughter Aubrey Hunter, 5, were grabbing a bite to eat after picking up a helmet.

“This isn’t a reason that I came over today,” Moran said. “It’s the only reason that I came over here.”

Sholom Kudau, Gan Israel summer camp counselor, said staff had brought eight campers to the park to enjoy the sunshine. They also made sure to stop by the HKQ Kids stand to get their colorful helmets.

Each were fitted with helmets in the size appropriate to their head and given safety advice.

“If the helmet falls, even off a shelf, it’s no longer usable,” said Sue Greenfield, project manager of the giveaway. “You can’t use it anymore.”

Quinn said many helmet recipients come back year after year, getting to know the staff and preparing for summer spent on bikes, trikes and even on the back of their parents’ bicycles.

One little boy, Greenfield said, was so eager to get started biking, he wouldn’t let anyone take off his helmet.

“It was really cute,” she said. “He just drove off next to his parents, on his tricycle.”

Quinn said he and his family thoroughly enjoy being part of the giveaway.

“The thrill comes in the reaction we get in the faces of the children,” he said. “We have about 30 of our staff volunteering here today, all wanting to give back.”

Viola Weller, 5, of Edwardsville, gets fitted for a bicycle helmet by Sally Stravinski, a Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn law firm employee from Mountain Top. The law firm distributed free bicycle helmets to children at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ttl070517helmets-3.jpg.optimal.jpgViola Weller, 5, of Edwardsville, gets fitted for a bicycle helmet by Sally Stravinski, a Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn law firm employee from Mountain Top. The law firm distributed free bicycle helmets to children at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.

Sue Greenfield, project manager for HKQ Kids, fits Jordan Winters, 7, of Wilkes-Barre, with the right-size bicycle helmet on Tuesday at Kirby Park. The Kingston law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn has been giving away bicycle helmets to children for 10 years now.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_ttl070517helemts-2.jpg.optimal.jpgSue Greenfield, project manager for HKQ Kids, fits Jordan Winters, 7, of Wilkes-Barre, with the right-size bicycle helmet on Tuesday at Kirby Park. The Kingston law firm of Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn has been giving away bicycle helmets to children for 10 years now.

By Geri Gibbons

For Times Leader