The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department held their annual coat distribution event on Monday, distributing over 3,000 jackets to 75 local schools, non-profits and shelters.
“A coat goes a long way. There’s the chance a kid might not go outside to play because they don’t have a coat,” said Deputy Chief Willie Bailey. “There’s a chance they might not go to school. I have heard families say the kids take turns wearing the coat.” For Bailey, the mission is a personal one. The deputy chief didn’t receive his first new coat until he reached high school.
“I grew up in public housing, six to seven kids, my parents didn’t have a whole lot. When I received my first brand new coat, I didn’t want to take it off,” said Bailey. Bailey wanted other kids in the community to know that feeling of warmth and confidence a coat can bring by creating the annual coat drive.