By Kris Leonhardt

Senior Editor

STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point firefighters – International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 484 is teaming up with Operation Warm to provide new winter coats to disadvantaged area students.

This is the fifth year for the collaboration and organizers say that the need continues to grow.

“I was first approached at a Wisconsin firefighters convention in 2015 and made aware of the Operation Warm program and their mission. The International Association of Firefighters had vetted the organization and chose to partner with them, I believe in 2012,” recalled Stevens Point Fire Fighters President Matt Zander. “Our union president at the time, Justin Thomson, really encouraged me to get our first campaign started, and I’ve been chairing it ever since. Also, if it wasn’t for the help of the schools’ administrative assistants we would never have been successful. They have been awesome to work with and deserve much of the credit for the success we have had.

“The representatives at the 2015 convention said that I would be surprised how many kids in our area were going without winter coats, so we decided, as a union, we would reach out to the local schools without really knowing what response we would get. That first year we were surprised to receive 88 requests, the next year over 160 and has continued to increase every year since.”

In four years, the organization has donated more than 650 coats to students in the Stevens Point School District, Pacelli Catholic Schools, and Stevens Point Lutheran Schools. In 2018 alone, 207 coats were donated, and organizers expect that number to increase this year.

A $25 donation provides one new winter coat to area students, grades 4K to six, with Stevens Point firefighters targeting 250 coats, $6,250 is needed.

Donations may be left at Stevens Point Fire Station No. 1 or 2, or mailed to Stevens Point Fire Department, Attn: Matt Zander, 1701 Franklin St., Stevens Point, WI, 54481.