Arlington Heights Local 3105 Firefighters host annual Coat and Toy Drive

Arlington Heights firefighters will be hosting a coat drive and participating in the Chicagoland Toys for Tots Toy Drive from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, to help keep the needy warm this winter.

Local firefighters and School District 25 are teaming up to help needy students and families in the district. Arlington Heights Firefighters will be collecting new and gently used coats as well as new toys at all four fire stations for the month of November and December. This is the seventh consecutive year the Arlington Heights Firefighters have hosted the coat drive and have collected more than 1,500 coats as well as countless toys.

U.S. Census data shows that, "Health experts report that even a two-degree drop in body temperature results in reduced heart rate, loss of coordination and confusion. Adults cannot work effectively and children find it difficult to learn. For most, a warm coat solves the problem. But, for the now nearly 15 percent of Americans living in poverty, a warm winter coat is a budget 'extra.'" So let's get those old coats out of the back of the closet and help keep our less-fortunate residents warm this winter!

Coats will be collected at the following Arlington Heights locations:

• Station 1: 300 E. Sigwalt Street

• Station 2: 1150 N. Arlington Heights Road

• Station 3: 2000 S. Arlington Heights Road

• Station 4: 3030 N. Arlington Heights Road