Prince George
County, VA

Warm for the winter


Preschoolers at William A. Walton Elementary School in Prince George receive coats from generous firefighters

PRINCE GEORGE — Sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Cindy King, a teacher at William A. Walton Elementary, took to Facebook asking for winter coats on behalf of some of her students. A member of Prince George County’s Fire and EMS, Daniel Thompson, saw the post and reached out to King. On Monday, Nov. 18, Firefighters Association L4994 showed up to Walton with coats in hand.

Firefighter Lieutenant Thomas Mason said most local firefighters are from Prince George, therefore they always look to help the community whenever possible.

The inspiration came after temperatures dropped over the last few weeks, and King noticed some of her preschoolers were wearing lighter coats or no coats at all while traveling around Walton’s outside campus. So, King decided to take action. In her post on social media, she requested anyone looking to donate old winter coats to consider the school first. Thompson then saw the post and mentioned it to Mason.

According to Mason, the local firefighter’s union L4994 made arrangements and made a trip to Burlington Coat Factory. In total, they purchased nine jackets for members of King’s class using funds provided by membership dues.

“The kids were overjoyed,” Mason said when they presented the students with their new coats.

Mason mentioned that many first responders have kids of their own, so they are well aware that teachers often buy things out of their own pockets for students. With that under consideration and being a part of an organization that revolves around helping others, Mason said they “didn’t think twice about doing what was right for the kids.”

“It’s who we are,” he said.

Had nobody answered the call, King believes she and other teachers would have provided the coats anyway. According to King, being around young kids all the time makes you want to do everything to help them, but that isn’t always possible.

Her post was originally meant to get a coat or two here and there from some friends, but Firefighter Association L4994 exceeded those expectations. King said her students have been wearing their new coats ever since, and the parents are also very appreciative.

Walton Elementary is still receiving winter coat donations so that they can extend to other grade levels.

By Brandon Carwile
The Progress-Index
Brandon Carwile can be reached at bcarwile@progress-index.com.