Operation Warm and Firefighters Coats for Kids Foundation Mobilizing to Provide New Coats to Kids

PRLog (Press Release) - Nov. 7, 2012 - Philadelphia, PA – National non-profit Operation Warm and Firefighters Coats for Kids Foundation have launched an emergency relief effort to infuse storm-shattered communities in New York and New Jersey with brand new winter coats for children whose families have been devastated by hurricane Sandy.  “The astounding aftermath of hurricane Sandy has resulted in firefighters throughout the region mobilizing to help as many families as possible,” stated Bill Romaka, IAFF 1st District Vice President “Our ability to join forces quickly to offer relief means that we can get warm coats to children in the most devastated areas before the impending nor`easter hits. It’s mission critical.”

FedEx has generously offered to transport over 7,000 new coats directly into the New York and New Jersey’s storm-hit communities. The coats will arrive Friday November 9th, and firefighters from the Mid-Atlantic States will work with local disaster relief agencies to distribute the new coats immediately. “We couldn’t be more grateful to local firefighters  and to FedEx who have literally jumped into action to help us provide new winter coats to families who have lost so much,” said Dick Sanford, Operation Warm’s founder and chairman.  “It’s truly incredible to work with a community of men and women who care so deeply for the communities they serve and represent.  With firefighter’s expertise, we can target those families who have been hardest hit and respond as rapidly as possible.”

Originally launched to address a local problem with underserved children in a Philadelphia suburb, Operation Warm has grown nationally to address the serious need throughout the U.S. for a basic essential; a warm winter coat.  Since its inception in 1998, OW has distributed coats in 37 states and in February 2012, distributed the one millionth coat. The International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) represents 300,000 professional fire fighters in North America and supports Operation Warm’s efforts.