Local organization asking for donations to keep kids bundled up during the colder months

WORCESTER COUNTY, Md.- A local firefighters association needs your help making sure kids stay warm during the colder months.

The Worcester County Professional Fire Fighters Association has been partnering with Operation Warm for the last 8 years to provide new winter coats to local kids in need.

This year they set a record of delivering 335 coats to Buckingham, Snow Hill, and Pocomoke Elementary Schools. But now they’re in desperate need of donations to continue the program for the future. They’re asking the community to donate, so they won’t have to limit who gets them.

“We are going to have to go to the school and say alright now you have to pick and choose your kids, which ones are the neediest, which ones are ya know I hate to exclude this child or I can only maybe give you x amount of coats this year, you know we don’t ever want to be in that position, we want to be in a position if there’s a child in need we want to make sure they get what you know to be able to help them out and get them a coat,” Sean Sullivan, the Operation Warm Coordinator and a Firefighter Paramedic with Ocean Pines Fire Department, said.

Officials told us COVID-19 and inflation have impacted their fundraising efforts. This year alone they spent over $8,000 on coats.

If you are able to donate, checks can be mailed to:

Worcester County Professional Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 4916

P.O. Box 1524

Berlin, Maryland 21811