NH Professional Fire Fighters Launch Coat Drive

This winter, the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire (PFFNH) are putting children first, pledging to cover over 4,000 of New Hampshire’s less fortunate children with brand-new coats.

This initiative will ensure that 10 percent of the 43,000 NH children living in poverty will have a quality, warm coat to call their own. The initiative is in partnership with Operation Warm, a national non-profit dedicated to providing new winter coats to children in need. The statewide effort is part of a growing nationwide movement sparked by the collaboration of Operation Warm and the International Association of Fire Fighters.

Fire Fighters have already begun fundraising in 19 of the 43 communities protected by the PFFNH. Each $34 donation provides another child with a brand-new coat. The goal is to reach 100 children in each community for a total of 4,300 happy, warm children. This is the first year the PFFNH is launching what will become an annual program they hope to grow each year.

“As Fire Fighters, this is what we do; we care about our communities both on and off the job. Some children in our communities need warm coats during the harsh winter months. We enter the homes of these children and witness firsthand the hardships faced by their families. Hopefully these coats will allow these kids an opportunity to focus on just being a kid,” said David Lang, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire. Lang continued, “In an emergency Fire Fighters respond. We see this as a need for response and we are asking the community to help us by supporting this effort.”

The coats, made especially for this nation-wide program, are 100 percent American-made. The first known production to be brought back to the USA, this unique program is helping to rebuild an industry that has virtually died within the country. As of now, the migration of coat manufacturing back to the USA has supported over 200 jobs.

To donate or get more information please visit: pffnh.org.

The PFFNH, headquartered in Concord, NH represents more than 2,000 active and retired fire fighters and paramedics. More information is available at pffnh.org.

Submitted by the Professional Fire Fighters of New Hampshire.