SMFD Donates 200 New Coats to Rawson Students

Firefighers donated 200 new winter coats to Rawson Elementary students in South Milwaukee on Friday and in return received stacks of handmade thank you cards and a ton of smiles.

Funds to purchase the coats through the non-profit Operation Warm were raised by South Milwaukee Firefighters Local 1633, a grant from the Bucyrus Foundation, and the Forest County Potawatomi Foundation.

"We are really proud of the partnerships we have developed with our community and the way this community comes together to support our learners. Getting the opportunity to run and play with peers at recess during those winter months is really important. It is one of the many ways our students learn to collaborate and problem-solve, so we are grateful to SMFD for bringing 200 warm coats into our schools!" Superintendent Deidre Roemer said. “It's also a huge goal of ours to engage our students in the community and our community with our students. I can’t think of a better example of that than this tremendous effort."

Fire Chief John Litchford said the donation underscores the department's commitment to community engagement.

 “These coats aren’t just about staying warm; they’re about giving children the confidence and security to thrive during the colder months,” said Fire Chief John Litchford. “We are proud to work alongside our dedicated community partners to bring comfort and warmth to needy families.”