Nearly one in three children in Camden, New Jersey live in poverty and cannot afford basic necessities, like a winter coat. But this year, close to 500 coats were donated to Camden children, thanks to Horizon Services, Operation Warm, and Camden Firefighters.
On Wednesday at the Riletta Twyne Cream Family School in Camden children had the opportunity to line up and receive a brand-new coat.
“By giving children new coats [Horizon Services] are not only providing them with physical warmth, but emotional warmth as well," Director of Marketing at Operation Warm Brock Clauser said. "A brand-new coat for a child in need, particularly right before the holidays, brings them so much joy and hope."
Horizon Services and Operation Warm -- a national nonprofit dedicated to providing coats to those in need -- have partnered up for the seventh year in a row to provide winter warmth for these children. With the volunteer help of Camden Firefighters, each child got the chance to be personally fitted for their new jacket.
Since 2010 Horizon Services has helped donate more than 3,000 new coats to the community through Operation Warm and firefighter and employee volunteer programs.
“It’s easy to take for granted a necessity like a coat that most of us have, but for these children, it’s a necessity their families may not be able to afford," Mark Aitken, co-owner of Horizon Services said. "I am glad that our company can not only provide a coat, but that our employees can participate in this event and see their excitement and appreciation first hand when they receive their brand new coat."
For more information about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.
