Firefighters team up to warm those in need

As winter approaches, many are in need of outerwear to survive Utah's cold weather. Unified Fire Authority and Salt Lake City firefighters are teaming up to collect blankets and coats for those in need.

“We want to make an effort so nobody freezes this year,” UFA Capt. Fitzgerald Petersen said. “It was 19 years ago that I started this collection project with my crew and each year it has grown.”

The firefighters are trying to reach a goal of 5,000 items before the first of the year. The items will be donated to local charities St Vincent de Paul, The Road Home and the Salvation Army. (If there is a special need like a senior center or family, let your local firefighters know.) The firefighters are committed to helping as many homeless and low income people as possible.

“The donation center’s request for help came earlier this year as the need is great,” Petersen said.

Coats and blankets are in high demand, but items like toothpaste, soap and razors can make a difference too. These items help keep individuals warm and be prepared to face a new day.

Petersen uses his days off weekly to transport the donated items from the UFA stations to St. Vincent de Paul. He often takes time to serve in the soup kitchen there on the same day.

“I started out serving at the soup kitchen in my college days,” he said.

Many firefighters have followed Petersen’s example. There are 1,000 firefighters contributing valley wide; 450 are from the UFA.

Donations have already come from family, friends and neighbors of firefighters and LDS wards that support this effort every year. The new Millcreek Savers donated during the Utah Food Bank and KUTV News’ Day of Thanks, Nov. 23, while a friendly collection competition between UFA and SLC firefighters took place at two Smith’s locations in the Salt Lake Valley.

Individuals, communities and neighborhoods can help by bringing clean, new or used coats, blankets and outerwear to local fire stations this year and warm those in need. Local donation stations are Millcreek #101 3900 South 790 East; Millcreek #106 3300 South 1911 East and Olympus Cove #112 3612 East Jupiter Drive.