Firefighters warm up for annual coat giveaway

The global pandemic has shaken up a lot and prompted many community events to be canceled or postponed, but Lowell firefighters are planning to continue undeterred with their annual coat giveaway for young city residents who are most in need.

Retired firefighter Larry Finn, who runs the nonprofit Coats from Ann Above with help from other firefighters, said the annual event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 31, this year from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the John F. Kennedy Civic Center fire station on Moody

Street.

There will be several hundred coats on hand for those in need to choose from, as well as coffee and doughnuts to enjoy, Finn said.

The only change this year is that firefighters are asking everyone who visits to wear a mask.

Finn said there will be masks available for anyone who doesn’t have one.

He said the firefighters, who collect donations as well as gently used coats throughout the year, will also be buying over 200 new coats from Kohls and LL Bean for 10 students from each Lowell school who have been identified by school staff.

He said the group is also planning to buy 30 coats for Lowell High School students, as well as two or three extra coats for each school to help homeless students.

Both Kohl’s and LL Bean give the firefighters a steep discount on the coats purchased for students, many of which students are able to pick out themselves.

Finn said the group collected over $4,400 and 400 winter coats during their annual collection drive, which wrapped up last week.

For more information, visit: https://www.faceb o o k . c o m / C o at s - f r o m - Ann -Above - 1577627229216940.