JACKSONVILLE – Fire fighters with the Jacksonville Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 4249 hand delivered brand-new, American-made coats to approximately 50 children. The donations are a portion of 400 coats the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina purchased through Firefighters Coats for Kids, and divided among several cities across North Carolina.
PFFPNC and its statewide local associations are active participants in Firefighters Coats for Kids, an outreach foundation that provides never-worn, American-made coats for children in need. Firefighters Coats for Kids is part of Operation Warm, a national non-profit organization that addresses the need of children living in poverty in the United States with new coats. PFFPNC purchased 400 coats with money raised in city fundraising efforts. The coats will be divided among those cities, including Jacksonville, Concord, Asheville, Statesville and Winston-Salem.
PFFPNC is involved in many statewide and nationally supported outreach programs. The statewide organization decided to become involved in Firefighter Coats for Kids as an example of giving back to the community that gives to its fire fighters and paramedics. The money donated to Firefighters Coats for Kids through Operation Warm comes from fundraising efforts in participating cities. Support for these efforts comes from the public, so PFFPNC feels it should in turn show its support to members of the community. This is one example.
The statewide organization also is in support of Fire Fighters Coats for Kids and Operation Warm because all donated coats are brand new, never worn or dry-cleaned, and most importantly made in America. PFFPNC is proud to support a cause that puts warm coats on the backs of children in need, but also support labor in the country that provides jobs for those also in need of work.