Volunteers from across the city gathered at the Charles Houston Recreation Center Oct. 28 to distribute hundreds of new coats to families in need as part of the Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue annual coat drive. A second distribution followed later that same day at Samuel Tucker Elementary School.

Now in its 18th year, the coat drive is part of year-round efforts by Firefighters and Friends, which also provides new backpacks and school supplies and toys to families in need during the holiday season.

“The volunteers truly enjoyed assisting the kids with choosing a coat,” said Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue founder and School Board member Willie Bailey.  

Bailey founded Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue more than two decades ago as an annual toy drive. It has expanded to serve more than 60 nonprofits and community organizations throughout the region.

“Building resilient and sustainable communities takes all of us in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors working together,” said Amelia Chasse Alcivar, executive vice president of Hilco Redevelopment Partners. “Our team at HRP is proud to join with impactful organizations like Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue and ARHA to ensure that no Alexandria child goes without a warm coat this winter.”

Coats are obtained through the national nonprofit Operation Warm with local volunteers sorting and distributing to those in need throughout the region.

“This is the 18th year distributing coats to the community,” Bailey said. “We have come a long way. The first few years we gave away a few hundred used coats. Now fast forward 18 years later and with the help of Operation Warm we are providing thousands of new coats to families in need across Northern Virginia.”

In addition to the hundreds of coats distributed at the two locations, more than 1,000 books were provided by the literacy nonprofit InspireLit.

“Our volunteers escorted the children to the tables to pick out a new coat for themselves,” Bailey said. “Then they were taken over to an area to pick out new books generously provided by InspireLit, who had a team on hand to help kids make their selections.”

For the seventh year, ARHA partnered with the organization to provide coats to deserving families.    

“ARHA is thankful to work with Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue and specifically Willie Bailey because of his heart and passion for helping kids,” said ARHA director of Community Services Gaynelle Diaz. “Because of his efforts, hundreds of students will have a new coat to keep them warm this winter and their parents will have one less thing to worry about.”

Sponsors for the event include: Alexandria Redevelopment Housing Authority; Hilco Redevelopment Partners; Firefighters and Friends to the Rescue Inc.; Apple Federal Credit Union; Department of Community and Human Services; Alexandria Department of Recreation and Cultural Activities; Promax Realtors; Nationwide Credit Corporation; InspireLit (Books); Greene Funeral Home; Caring Angels Therapy Dogs; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity – Alexandria Chapter; and the Alexandria Gazette Packet.

“The people that we are serving are very appreciative,” said volunteer Michael Johnson. “It’s a good thing to be giving back to the community.”

Added Bailey, “A new coat means so much to a child. It provides a child both physical and emotional warmth. It helps a student attend school, socialize with their peers and play outside with pride. And it reminds them that there are those in their community that care about their well-being and future.”