#IFD Clothe A Child

Indianapolis Firefighters spent the morning celebrating an early Christmas with 65 area children, eating breakfast, shopping for clothes and visiting with Santa. Each year as part of the IFD Clothe-A-Child program, children in need of assistance are assigned an IFD Firefighter, who helps them shop for a warm coat, clothes for school and new shoes for the winter. The day started early with the children arriving at the Indianapolis Professional Firefighters Union Hall at 7:00 am where they were given a hearty breakfast, cooked firehouse style, by IFD firefighters. After breakfast, the kids and firefighters boarded buses, graciously donated by Free Enterprise and headed to Greenwood Park Mall where they shopped at JC Penney Department Store. A third year partner, JC Penney makes shopping fun and easy, graciously opening their doors early for the group to shop. About $15,000 is spent outfitting the 65 children every year. Once the shopping was complete, the buses returned the children and firefighters to the Union Hall where they visit with Santa and opened gifts. Many of the firefighters were joined at this event, each year, by their families, teaching their own children the value of helping others, especially during the holidays. Firefighters, children and spouses make this truly a family affair. The IFD Clothe-A-Child program is solely funded by donations through specific gifts and the Fill the Bell Program. Clothe-A-Child began in the 1940’s as the Mile-O-Dimes campaign in conjunction with the Indianapolis Times Newspaper. When the Times ceased publication in 1965, the IFD established the Fill the Bell to Clothe-A-Child Program and has been an IFD charity for over 58 years. Firefighters are “standing the bell” for the two weeks prior to Christmas (Dec. 7-23) at Castleton Square Mall (Macy’s) from 10 am to 8 pm daily. Please stop by and say hello to your IFD Firefighters and help next year’s children with your spare change. Ways to donate: § Visit to make a monetary donation or use the attached QR Code in the photos § Donate directly to the Fill-the Bell account at the Firefighters Credit Union – 726 Massachusetts Ave § Donate in-person at Castleton Square Mall. Dec. 7-23….10 am – 8 pm daily – inside - in front of Macy’s