Although you may not encounter it, thousands of children in New Hampshire struggle to get by. Across the USA, the number of children in poverty is well over 16 million, and right here in New Hampshire, over 42,000 children are living in poverty by no fault of their own.

Portsmouth Professional Firefighters are fighting back. Partnering with Operation Warm, we are committed to providing brand-new winter coats to children living in these unfortunate circumstances. Please join us in our fight against poverty: www.operationwarm.org/portsmouth1313

In the fire service there are many traditions, and one of those traditions, is giving back to the community in which we serve. As firefighters, we have a unique window into the lives of those struggling in our community. We interact with citizens in the moments they struggle with fire, medical emergencies, crime, and more frequently we interact with them as they struggle through poverty.

The living conditions in the homes of these families are nothing short of tragic. In tough neighborhoods, homes without heat, furniture, and other basic necessities are becoming all too common. There are local families right here in Portsmouth that are truly in dire need.

More than a coat: 

Not to be confused with a coat collection drive, our program is centered around brand-new coats. With a successful fundraising effort, kids will be able to choose their color, and receive a new coat that has been specifically sized for them. Many of these kids may have never received a new coat in their life and are in disbelief when they are told that the coat is their’s to keep.

Working together with the Portsmouth community, we will select children to sponsor based on indicators that their families are hovering at the federal poverty guidelines. Coats will then be distributed in the fall at special events in which firefighters and volunteers chosen by corporate supporters interact with children and witness their unforgettable reactions.

We’re proud to partner with Operation Warm in these efforts. Since 1998 they’ve provided the gift of warmth to 1.4 million children and in 2012, with our support, they took a tremendous step in the right direction. They began the migration of their coat manufacturing back to the USA. An industry that has virtually died in our country. By October 2014 they will have produced 90,000, 100% USA-made winter coats, an initiative that has supported over 200 jobs for
Americans.

Please join us in supporting this mission. Feel free to contact me with any questions about this very rewarding opportunity or visit www.operationwarm.org/portsmouth1313 to make a tax deductible donation today.

We thank you in advance for becoming a partner, a hero in your community, and helping to insure that children in our community feel warm, healthy, and valued.