Can you think of a time when you were cold? That teeth-chattering, knee-knocking, able-to-see-your-breath type of cold? In this instance, you may have been wearing a coat, but imagine if you weren’t… imagine if you didn’t own a coat and that was out of your control. For 16.1 million children in the US, this is a harsh reality. Many of these children are forced to walk to and from school or wait for the bus in sub-freezing temperatures.
The Lubbock Professional Firefighters, Local 972 and Lubbock Fire Rescue have partnered with Operation Warm; a national non-profit organization; for the last three years to provide brand new, American-made, winter coats to children living in these unfortunate circumstances.
What is it? IT’S MORE THAN A COAT. This program has the potential to strengthen our community in more ways than one. Beyond warmth, a new coat positively impacts a child’s school attendance, self-esteem, and overall health and well-being. In addition, USA coat manufacturing creates American jobs and boosts the economy – we’ve supported over 200 jobs since 2013.
Past schools helped include Guadalupe Elementary with 275 coats, Jackson Elementary with 265 coats and Wright Elementary with 275 coats.
This year’s Coats for Kids distribution will take place on October 31st at Wheelock Elementary at 3008 42nd street at 9:00 a.m. The kids will begin coming through and getting their coats at 9:30 a.m.
(News release from the Lubbock Professional Firefighters, Local 972 and Lubbock Fire Rescue)
