Submitted by Pierce County Professional Firefighters

On January 21, 2015 the Pierce County Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 726, will provide brand-new winter coats to over 376 children at Chief Leschi School, Christiansen Elementary, Harvard Elementary, Stewart Elementary, Rocky Ridge Elementary, Roy Elementary, in partnership with Operation Warm, a national non-profit dedicated to warming the hearts, minds and bodies of children in need. The collaborative, community-based program has impact far beyond Puyallup. Firefighters across the US and Canada are bringing this program to the communities they protect. Firefighters for Operation Warm is a movement led by professional firefighters to combat the effects of childhood poverty.

“Working with the local schools we have identified students that need free and reduced lunches and schools that are title 1. These students and families could not afford a warm coat on their own. Our children and schools benefit from this program in more ways than one,” stated Dennis Lawson, Local 726. “By nature of our service to the community, we’re able to see the harsh effects poverty has on these children firsthand.” Pierce County Professional Firefighters will be personally fitting each child with a new coat and helping them to write their name in the interior tag, which reads, “Made Just for You.” With monetary support from the following community partners the firefighters are able to give the gift of warmth to these children right before the coldest days of winter hit.

Local donations, totalling $12,500, for Operation Warm were made by the following groups:

Puyallup Tribe of Indians                                                           $ 5,000.00
Millgard Foundation                                                                   $ 4,000.00
Puyallup Rotary                                                                           $ 1,000.00
Puyallup Professional Firefighters Local 726                        $ 2,500.00

Specifically for the firefighters program, Operation Warm has manufactured 90,000 100% American-made coats, supporting over 200 jobs. As the first known coat production to be brought back to the US, the children will receive bright, new coats made with American pride. “This is so much more than a coat,” said Lawson. “Beyond warmth and dignity for children, American coat production targets a root cause of poverty for so many families.”

“This is a program that strengthens communities and the overall well-being of children,” stated Rich Lalley, Executive Director of Operation Warm. “A new coat boosts a child’s self-esteem and allows families to stretch limited financial resources to other basic necessities, such as food and shelter.”

Interested in donationg to Pierce County Professional Firefighters Local 726 for Operation Warm? You can find out more and make a donation by visiting Operation Warm’s website here: www.operationwarm.org/puyallup