Charlotte Fire Helps Collect Thousands of Coats to Keep Kids Warm
Published on January 09, 2025
Working together, Charlotte Fire and community volunteers move coats from collection points to distribution centers on a brisk winter day.
By Kevin Campbell, Charlotte Fire
For more than a decade, Charlotte Fire has gone beyond extinguishing flames and responding to emergencies by working to keep children in the community warm during the coldest months of the year. This year’s participation in the WSOC-TV Coats for Kids drive continued that legacy, with Charlotte Fire collecting hundreds of coats at firehouses across the city.
Two Charlotte Fire firefighters collect coats at Firehouse 6, demonstrating the department's commitment to keeping kids warm and supported
Since the start of this partnership, Charlotte Fire has helped distribute tens of thousands of coats to children in need, demonstrating the department’s commitment to serving the community in every way possible. Fire Chief Reginald Johnson highlighted the importance of this effort, saying, “We see the impact of these donations firsthand. Every coat collected represents a child staying warm and a family receiving relief from an added financial burden. This is what being part of a community is all about.”
As temperatures dip into the twenties, the need for warm winter clothing becomes even more apparent. For families struggling to make ends meet, the cost of coats for growing children can quickly add up.
Inside a Charlotte Fire van packed to the brim with donated coats, firefighters prepare to distribute these vital winter essentials to those in need.
Tovi Martin, Director of Communications for Crisis Assistance Ministry, emphasized the value of the initiative, explaining, “This partnership makes it so much easier for community members across the area to participate. Almost everyone has a firehouse nearby where they can drop off new or gently used coats to help out their neighbors.”
Martin added, “A warm winter coat can make a big difference for families. The cost of replacing coats for growing children can take away from utility payments, groceries, or even rent. By helping families with this expense, we’re all working together to keep kids warm and their homes stable during winter. That’s a powerful impact on a cold day like today.”
The team effort at Charlotte Fire's coat drive highlights the department's ongoing mission to care for the community beyond emergencies.
The community’s response to the coat drive has been heartwarming, with donations filling collection barrels to the brim at firehouses citywide. On the final day of this year’s drive, a Charlotte Fire van, packed to the top with coats, was joined by additional vehicles to ensure every donated item made it to Crisis Assistance Ministry for distribution.
Cedric Thomas, Vice President and General Manager of WSOC-TV, praised the fire department’s involvement: “Charlotte Fire plays a critical role in the continued success of WSOC’s Coats for Kids drive. We know the men and women of Charlotte Fire see the need for warm coats firsthand every day when they respond to emergencies, and we’re grateful for their continued commitment to helping keep kids warm each winter.”
Firefighters from Charlotte Fire gather to help load donated coats onto vehicles for delivery to Crisis Assistance Ministry, ensuring families stay warm this winter.
Chief Johnson echoed that sentiment, adding, “This is more than just a coat drive. It’s a demonstration of the strength and compassion of our community. Charlotte Fire is proud to be part of an effort that touches so many lives and reminds us all of what we can accomplish together.”
As Charlotte Fire looks ahead, the department is already planning for the next community initiative, knowing that the generosity of its neighbors will continue to make a difference. In the meantime, hundreds of children across the area will brave the winter weather a little warmer, thanks to the efforts of Charlotte Fire, WSOC-TV, and the incredible residents of this city.
Charlotte Fire crews proudly display the Coats for Kids donation barrels at local firehouses, where hundreds of coats were collected for children in need.