Cupid took the sideline on February 14. That’s when more than 1 million jubilant football fans converged on South Philly and Center City for the Philadelphia Eagles 2025 Super Bowl Parade and Victory Celebration.
The chubby, winged cherub, the Roman god of erotic love and ecstasy, would have to sit this one out. Eagles football fans were already ecstatic, cheering on quarterback and MVP Jalen Hurts and the rest of Philadelphia’s Super Bowl LIX Championship Birds.
Heart-shaped boxes and red carnations could wait. This Valentine’s Day was all about love but love of a different sort. This was about the city’s love of football and Philadelphia’s football heroes.
Some lesser-known heroes – but heroes just the same – were also on hand that frigid Friday. Members of Philadelphia’s Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) would melt the coldest of hearts as they eagerly volunteered to help any revelers along the parade route who might need medical assistance.
Serving the City
Philadelphia’s MRC is made up of more than 5,000 volunteers who serve the city at large-scale events and during major emergencies. The health department trains Philadelphia MRC volunteers and coordinates their response when needed. Volunteers are deployed during major emergencies, such as natural disasters, and at special events, including the City’s Super Bowl Parades in 2018, celebrating the Eagles 41-33 win over the New England Patriots, and this year, celebrating the Birds 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The MRC is made up of clinical and non-clinical volunteers. Those volunteers support Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at City-sponsored special events, while working at designated medical tents. They administer first-aid, assess vital signs, and provide basic life support. In addition, they perform initial assessments to alert EMS or partnering agencies, provide clinical documentation, and help people get situated once they arrive for needed medical assistance.
At large-scale events and major emergencies
In addition to the two Super Bowl Parades, the MRC provided medical assistance during Pope Francis’ Papal Visit to Philadelphia in 2015, and during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in 2016. Annually, MRC volunteers also assist at the Broad Street Run, the Roots Picnic, Wawa Welcome America, and the Philadelphia Marathon.
The MRC regularly supports the City in other ways, including participation in multiple community outreach events, and annual first responder flu clinics. In the last few years, hundreds of volunteers supported the City’s response to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. That response included a large-scale, drive-through COVID-19 testing site at Citizen’s Bank Park in South Philadelphia, isolation and quarantine support, and early COVID-19 vaccination. The MRC also stepped up to support Operation Allies Welcome, when in 2021, the City and the Philadelphia International Airport welcomed nearly 30,000 refugees who were evacuated from Afghanistan. That support included initial processing, COVID-19 testing, quarantine and isolation of COVID-positive people, vaccinations, and additional medical services.
Philadelphia MRC volunteers sometimes support other community-based MRC units in need in other areas in Pennsylvania and throughout the U.S. Many did just that during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 in Louisiana, and Hurricane Ian in 2022 in Florida.
Volunteer and spread the love
The MRC is always happy to welcome new volunteers. Help spread the love. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, email mrc@phila.gov. The MRC will send you information about how to register and create your volunteer account through the state’s SERVPA database.
