GI students get new coats due to Operation Warm

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Children in Grand Island will be warm thanks to members of the Grand Island Firefighters union.

This is the 9th year IAFF Local 647 has worked with Nebraska FOP Lodge #24, Operation Warm and the Grand Island Public Schools to provide winter coats.

On Thursday, kids at Jefferson Elementary received a brand new coat, who otherwise may have gone without one this year.

This year, they were able to give out nearly double the amount with 192 coats total.

Organizers say helping to give coats to kids in the community is a great way to give back.

“It makes us feel good that we can give these kids coats that they can stay warm in throughout the winter,” said GIFD Captain Fred Benzel.

He said they couldn’t have done it without the help of others.

This fall, the Grand Island Professional Fire Fighter also hosted its first-ever Steak Feed to raise money for Operation Warm. That event raised $2,000, so elementary students could have a warm winter.

For 22 years, Operation Warm has provided 4,000,000 million coats across the United States. Operation Warm’s mission is to provide warmth, confidence, and hope through basic need programs that connect underserved children to community resources they need to thrive.