"It makes us feel great!" Milwaukee firefighters deliver coats collected during "Warm Up Winter" campaign

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Milwaukee Fire Department rushed into Allen-Field School to a celebrity welcome on Wednesday, November 12th. Firefighters were there to deliver coats, after raising money for them during MFD's "Warm Up Winter" campaign.

"It makes us feel great, you know? To see the smiles on the kids when you give coats out to them," Milwaukee Fire Lt. Casey Kerwin said.

This is the third year for the Milwaukee Fire Department's "Warm Up Winter" campaign. Over the summer firefighters raised $90,000 to buy 2,500 new coats for children at five different Milwaukee Public Schools.

"96% of our students receive free or reduced lunch, so anytime we get an opportunity to participate in a program like Operation Warm, we are very fortunate because we know that it's helping children in need," Allen-Field School Principal Marybell Nieves-Harris said.

Children at Allen-Field School were surprised with the gift of new coats.

Six-year-old Maya Sierra said she was excited to show her parents after school.

"They're going to say 'where did you get that from?' And I'm going to say 'from the firefighters!'" Sierra said.

Not only will the coats help protect the children from Wisconsin's bitter cold this winter, it will also help school attendance.

"It just provides them with the opportunity to get to school. Even if it's just that one or two extra days a year that they can get to school, it could be a difference in their lives," Lt. Kerwin said.

These kids will feel the difference as winter sets in.

If you're interested in donating to the Milwaukee Fire Department's "Warm Up Winter" campaign CLICK HERE.