Foundation Gives 350 Winter Coats to Students
The Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation outfitted every student at Baxter Elementary School through its Operation Warm program.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Volunteers distributed 350 winter coats to every student at Baxter Elementary School, a Title One school in Anchorage, as part of Operation Warm. The Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation has sponsored the program for three consecutive years with partners Matson Shipping and Nuvision Credit Union.
Why it matters
Many Baxter Elementary families struggle financially, and winter gear can be expensive for them. Providing coats and gloves helps ensure students can stay warm in Anchorage's cold season.
The Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation distributed 350 coats to every student at Baxter Elementary School, a Title One school, as part of its third consecutive Operation Warm sponsorship. The source does not report how many students at other schools were served or what the coat totals were in earlier years.
The players
Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation
The charitable arm of the Anchorage Fire Department that sponsors community programs such as Operation Warm.
Ninja Hogenbirk
An Anchorage firefighter who helped organize Operation Warm for the foundation.
The details
Students chose their own coats and tried them on during the distribution, which also included jackets and gloves. Firefighter Ninja Hogenbirk helped organize Operation Warm alongside the foundation's partners.
Timeline
Three consecutive years: Operation Warm sponsorship by the Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation
Nov. 10, 2026: 350 coats distributed at Baxter Elementary School
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.: Second coat distribution at Safe Harbor in Muldoon
Philanthropy Context
This year's distribution extends the three-year run of Operation Warm, the coat drive the Anchorage Firefighter Charitable Foundation sponsors with Matson Shipping and Nuvision Credit Union. The program's continuity reflects a local model in which the fire department's charitable foundation partners with corporate and credit union sponsors to address winter needs at Title One schools.
Families at Baxter Elementary and in Muldoon can pick up winter coats and gloves at no cost during the scheduled distributions. Students at the school were able to choose and try on their own coats during the event.
The takeaway
Winter gear can be a barrier for families in Anchorage, and coordinated donation programs like Operation Warm help close that gap for students before the coldest months arrive.
What happens next
A second coat distribution is planned for Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Safe Harbor in Muldoon.
Further reading
For more on local giving, browse Philanthropy coverage across Anchorage.
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Should local charities and businesses do more to help low-income families afford winter coats?
