Newport Professional Firefighters Local 45, a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), has collected approximately $5,000 worth of food items for Newport Intermediate School for the middle school’s Power Pack Program.
The Power Pack Program is an initiative that provides disadvantaged children with food that can be easily prepared to eat at home on weekends and holidays. Without this program, many students would go hungry until they returned to school.
Firefighters from Local 45 IAFF collected the donations by distributing flyers at the entrance of the Kroger Marketplace located at the Newport Pavilion. The flyers contained general information about the Power Pack Program and a list of needed food items.
Generous shoppers then bought items and donated it as they left the store.
“As the need for assistance grows in Newport, Local 45 feels the need to interact more within our community,” said President of Local 45, Jake Silvati. “In some instances, these requests for help could be determined as a need for an emergency response, and who better to respond than us? The children are our future and anything we can do to brighten their future only brightens ours.”
This recent food drive by Local 45 IAFF is the newest of many ways the firefighters of Newport have given back to their city’s schools, and the first collaboration between the firefighters union and Newport’s middle school.
“We are extremely thankful and grateful for all the donations and support we have received and continue to receive,” said Silvati. “Newport Professional Firefighters Local 45 I.A.F.F.’s involvement would simply not be possible without the continuous support of the businesses and individuals in our local communities.”
Local 45 IAFF has expressed that it will continue its partnership with Newport Intermediate by hosting this food drive bi-annually to help the school meet its Power Pack needs. One collection will be held in August when school starts, and the other in February after the holiday break.
Both food drives will be held at the Kroger Marketplace located at the Newport Pavilion.
