Firefighters Deliver Coats For ‘Operation Warm’

600-Plus Coats Were Given To Kids In Need

Duluth firefighters distributed hundreds of coats to children in need Thursday — part of a national push to help communities.

“Operation Warm” is a national non-profit founded in 2002, but Duluth firefighters launched it locally last year to help children of lower-income families in the Northland stay warm through the winter.

“What we do is we raise money throughout the community to buy new american made winter coats for kids,” said Jon Otis, the local co-chair and Duluth firefighter.

The firefighters set a goal to raise $10,000 for the coats, and with the help of the community and local businesses, they were able to exceed the goal and raise a little over $22,000.

“A lot of times families have to make a decision between paying a utility bill and buying a jacket, and if we can offer a jacket to those kids, it makes it easier for those families,” Otis said.

Firefighters were able to provide 600 children with winter coats this year.

Nationwide, “Operation Warm” has provided more than 1.7 million children with coats.