United States Drug Enforcement Administration

PHILADELPHIA - Staff from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Philadelphia Field (PFD) distributed approximately 60 winter coats to the students of the Potter-Thomas Elementary School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Investigative (IA) Paula Martinez has organized this coat drive, as well as Red Ribbon Week activities, at the Potter-Thomas school for the past 15 years.  IA Martinez collected donated coats from DEA staff as well as other federal agencies at the William J. Green Federal Building where the DEA PFD is located.   

The Potter-Thomas school is located in a section of Philadelphia commonly referred to as “The Badlands.”  The area around the school has numerous open-air drug corners where heroin and other drugs are distributed.  

 “The teachers have told me that numerous kids at the school don’t have winter coats,” said Martinez, whose two grown children attended the school.   “The kids are really thankful to receive these coats.”  

“We are grateful not only for Paula’s efforts at the Division, but also for her long-standing commitment to the children of the Potter-Thomas school,” said PFD Special Agent in Charge Gary Tuggle.