Today, members of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association converged on Hickory Ridge Elementary School bearing the gift of warmth for its 170-plus kindergarteners.
Members placed brand new, American made coats on these deserving children. This is the 3rd year in a row that the Memphis Fire Fighters Association and its Charitable Foundation have given coats to children in need. In total, the Memphis Fire Fighters Association has given away nearly 3,500 coats in its three years of participating in this program.
“Our members are out on the streets each and every day and see how little some children have,” says Thomas Malone, President of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association. “We’re happy that we can provide some warmth to children to assure that he or she makes it to school and gets the education they so richly deserve,” added Malone.
City Councilman Harold Collins, whose Council District includes Hickory Ridge Elementary School, attended the coat distribution and sang the praises of the city’s firefighters. “Our firefighters do a great job providing for this community both on and off duty. I appreciate what they do for the citizens,” stated Collins.
In addition to Memphis, professional firefighters around the country have embraced the “Firefighters for Operation Warm” program and are working to provide brand new coats to children in need all across the country.
“We look forward to raising funds over the course of the year to do this again next winter,” says Matthew Tomek, Secretary/Treasurer of the Memphis Fire Fighters Association. “The more money we can raise, the more kids we can affect a positive change on by providing them a brand new coat,” adds Tomek.
For those wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution to our Firefighters for Operation Warm program, checks can be mailed to the MFFA Foundation, 5150 Stage Rd, Suite #103, Memphis, TN 38134 or via Paypal at www.iaff1784.org.
The Memphis Fire Fighters Association Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization.
WREG Channel 3 story:
http://wreg.com/2015/02/05/memphis-firefighters-hand-out-coats-to-kids/
