MORGANTOWN — For the fourth consecutive year, members of the Morgantown Firefighters IAFF Local 313 are partnering with national non-profit Operation Warm to provide hundreds of coats to kids in need.
Firefighters will be at Eastwood and Ridgedale elementary schools on Monday; Mason-Dixon Elementary and Suncrest Primary on Wednesday; and Mountainview and North elementary schools on Friday.
And they won’t arrive empty handed. It is expected that more than 275 winter coats will be given away.
“With our poverty levels reaching 40 percent, our children and schools benefit from this program in more ways than one,” Local 313 President Jayson Nicewarner said. “By nature of our service to the community, we’re able to see the harsh effects poverty has on these children first hand.”
According to a press release issued by Operation Warm, this year’s program has been supported through community donations as well as a large donation from customer service firm Teletech.
The coats provided are manufactured by Operation Warm.
According to the nonprofit’s website, Operation Warm works with community partners to identify children in need.
“Typically, these children attend a Title 1 school, a school where 40 percent or more of their students’ families are at or below 150 percent of the federally prescribed poverty level. Children may also be identified by living in a shelter, or through a human service agency or other direct-service organization.”
