Firefighters Give Out Thousands of Winter Coats to Children in Annual Drive

By Raytevia Evans

Fairfax County firefighters distributed about 2,400 winter coats to children in need this week. 

It was all part of an annual warm weather clothing drive. Preschool to middle school-aged children came together at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 11 - Penn Daw in Alexandria Wednesday to collect the coats.

"It started out small, but each year it just gets bigger," said Capt. Kendall Thompson. 

Capt. William Bailey, who organizes the event, said for the first time in the project's history, the coats were made in America and are tagged "Firefighters Coats for Kids."

Firefighter organizations worked with Operation Warm, the Coats for Kids Foundation, and Apple Federal Credit Union to pull together donations to buy the coats. 

Operation Warm is a non-profit group that works to provide new winter coats to children who cannot afford them. Over 60 fire departments are now participating in the annual coat giveaway throughout the country.

Local businesses and organizations including Nationwide Credit Corporation, Promax Realtors, Modern Technology Solutions, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, Kilroy's Restaurant and Sports Bar, SEIU VA-512, ACBC, Medocracy, Inc., and the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner also contributed.