Coats for Kids 2026: Help FOX6 spread warmth Nov. 2 – Dec. 6

Hasn't it? Thank you, Rob. Well, new today, Fox 6 is proud to once again team up with the Salvation Army to make sure local kids have something that every child so deserves, and that is a warm winter coat. Brian Cramp is live for us this morning at the Coats for Kids Distribution Center, kicking off the campaign and showing how your donations make such a big difference. Good morning to you, Hugh Cramp. Yeah, Nicola, it's such a big difference. It's right, too. You know, warmer temperatures out this week, but it's going to get down into the freezing temperatures. And Major, you know all about that. Major Beverly Gates joining us right now in the more than 40 years that you've been doing it. 42 years we've been affiliated with the Salvation Army as well for Coats for Kids. My goodness. First, before we get to the event going on, what is the mission of Salvation Army? The mission of the Salvation Army is really just to meet the needs of the people that we in our community, whatever that need may be. Yeah, well, I appreciate I appreciate all the work that you do because it's 365 days out of the year. It does not slow down. You recently had a distribution event here. What was that like? Because I know that there were big numbers and big coats that actually left the building. Absolutely. We, at the end of October, we had our distribution for coats and we had about 400 families come through and gave out almost 1,200 coats to children, you know, and it was exciting because there was energy in the air. They were excited about getting their coats because the kids get to choose the coats they wanted. It was really exciting. There are a lot of people involved with this. Fox 6, obviously, too. You have different organizations that have helped out year after year. Landmark Credit Union, a part of it this year. The coats coming in specifically from an organization as well. You want to name drop them before we talk to them later on? Well, we have Operation Warm. Operation Warm is a partner that allows us to purchase coats at They're going to reduce price, but still getting very quality coats, and it's great. Steinhoffels and Landmark, the support of those agencies and the way the community supports this coat drive is amazing. It is amazing, too. And I believe we have a QR code on the bottom of our screen, so if you want to donate, you can do it two ways, monetarily, or you can drop off the coats to any of the areas. You can see these barrels here. We have them all over the city. I know when the families were coming in this past weekend, And you had a really good time kind of watching the smiles, right? It's before they get the coat and then after they get the coat. Talk about that when a little girl gets that pink coat that she desires and walks out the door with it. You know, it was amazing. I had to, I got to greet them as the families came and I'd ask the kids, what color coat you want? You know, and you get that all kinds of coats. But I remember one little girl, she said, I want a pink coat. And I also got to see them as they left the building and this little girl was 70 degrees And she was dressed in a pink coat, pink scarf, tied up really tight, and a pink hat with a pom-pom on the top. It was amazing. And she was... Walking off proud of what she received. I'm glad that you said that, too. They walk out proud. There's a sense of that that you have when you're in cold and you have this jacket that warms you up and they're going into school or they're waiting outside, you know, for the bus. For you guys, like I said, this is continuous. This is all year long. But you can actually stop by starting today because we're kicking off Coats for Kids today through December 2nd here, weekdays, starting at 9 o'clock for Coats at this distribution center, correct? Yes. You can get here at this location, or if you go to SAMilwaukee.org, you can go on the site and they will be able to see where we are distributing coats, not only at this location, but at the other locations of the Salvation Army. Like I said, we appreciate all the work that you guys are doing. These are the blue barrels. Donate the coats here. We are looking for new and gently used coats, hats, scarves. Mittens, gloves, all of those major? Absolutely. Winter coats. We want to make sure that they're winter coats because we want the kids to be warm. And the hats, coats, the hats, gloves, the mittens, we'd like them just to be new, not to gently use so that the kids are getting something new as well. And you'll see the racks too. Bright colors. That's the trend this year. And as the sign says on the back wall there, hope for today, hope for tomorrow. It is the Coats for Kids back again. Kicking off today going through December 2nd. Here in Milwaukee. Thanks so much, Beverly, for all the work that you guys do here. Yeah, thank you. And you know, for those kids, when they get to pick out their own jacket, it's just the best you have for them. Keeping kids warm takes a team effort. And Landmark Credit Union is back for another year to help Fox 6 Coats for Kids make a difference. Brian Cramp has details on how Landmark is rallying the community to help this very important cause. Hi, Cramp. Good morning, Nicola. Yeah, very important cause indeed. And you had said, you know, of course there's rain, you know, on the way this week. Well, what happens when there's snow? And Tim, I got to say this, as the parent of four and a grandchild on the way, you know that the kids need to be warm. Thanks for joining us today. And also thanks for working with us. You know, this is a big event. This is year two for Landmark and your second year actually with them. What does it mean to you and to the team to make sure that you're supporting the cause as well? Absolutely. It's so important for us to support the communities that we work. and live and play in and so at Landmark we just want to make sure that we're making an impact in those communities. We know we've had a nice stretch of weather here in October. But the cold weather is coming, so it's so important that we keep our communities warm. Yeah, and you know that, too, originally being from Michigan, that the winters in the Midwest are brutal. And kids not having a coat, that's a big thing. So we've got to make sure they're warm. But there's something about having the coat of their choice, also, that makes quite a difference. Being a parent and knowing that, you know, this is the size of what your first grandchild's coat is going to be. How does it make you feel when you see something like this so small, knowing that some families don't have coats for their kids that are this size? Absolutely. it really tugs at your heartstrings, and so we really want to make sure, certainly at Landmark, that we... We get those coats to keep people warm. Last year was our first year being a part of this. We were able to collect over 3,600 coats. And so, yeah, I think kids and families did have a choice to pick out the coat that they wanted. And we know that's so important. I know my kids. It was very important. Very important. Yeah, you know, and you mentioned, too, the locations that you guys got that many coats. But these are the blue barrels that will be at Landmark Credit Union. You have more than 30 of them around the Milwaukee, southeastern Wisconsin area. But there's also a great event that's coming up on the 14th of November that's out in Brookfield on Executive Drive at that location, 7 to 9 o'clock in the morning. You guys are having kind of a special event, aren't you? Absolutely. We want you to bring out your coats and the first 100 people that come by will have Admirals tickets, two tickets for them to go to an upcoming Admirals game. So we think that's exciting and then of course the impact that we can have on our community. So if you can't make that day, stop by one of our 35 locations in Southeast Michigan If you're not sure where a location is, you can go certainly to LandmarkCU.com and you can find the location closest to you. You know, you have some businesses on here, from Steinhafel to Operation Warm, Salvation Army obviously has a non-profit, Absorb Tech, that have been with us for so long. Why did you guys want to jump on board last year as your first year? Absolutely. Well, being part of the community is so important to us and last year we contributed to over We have over 120 Non-profit organizations donated almost 600,000. We're on track to certainly exceed that this year. We also partnered with 108. Community organizations as well last year and I'm again on track to exceed that as well. So that community impact is so important to us and it's important that we give back. And you know all about that too because I believe that you spent some time with Salvation Army either on the board or helping out. What a mission too that they've done. It's not just one month out of the year. It's 365 days out of the year for you guys. How many locations total will have the Blue Barrels though so we can stop by? 35 locations. So come by a landmark branch and we'd be happy to collect that coat. Yeah, and it gets cold quick. Yes. I'm glad we're doing this now. Gotta be ready. $25 can help put a brand new winter coat on a local child, and that's really a small price to pay for a whole lot of warmth. Brian Kremp is in with Operation Warm, showing us just how easy it is to turn your generosity into something that a child can wear all winter long. Hey, Brian. Yeah, and Derek Hattu, Operation Warm has been a part of this for about 10 years or so, but we're going back 28 years, Rich, when Operation Warm started. Good seeing you again. If I see you, I know that means that coats are on the rack and it's time for coats for kids. But let's talk about that story. You know, when your founder saw kids waiting at a bus stop, what did he do? So it was early December. It was the first day it was snowing in that year. And he saw some little children waiting for a school bus and they didn't have any coats on. And he thought that was crazy what's going on here. It turns out they were children of migrant farmers in the area. So he said, well, this is unacceptable. So he went to the local department store and bought 60 coats, every coat they had. And that was the beginning of Operation Warm. And it's now almost 30 years later turned into a million coats a year across the United States and Canada, working with local Fox 6, who helped get coats to kids through the Salvation Army here every year. And I love the coats, too. Every year, there's kind of a different trend in colors. And there's colors that pop. You know, you can get a red and gray and a blue and a black. You can get an aqua. You can get black with lime, navy blue and gray. I mean, all of it, but also all sizes as well, too. And I think a lot of people are still kind of just... Wowed by the fact that a $25 donation is going to get a child in our area a coat to keep warm this winter. Yeah, it's a brand new coat and it's got a retail value of over $60. So a $25 donation, it's a great philanthropic value, if you will. And it'll empower a kid to go to school on cold winter days. You know, next week here in Milwaukee, it's going to be near freezing in the mornings. So, who wants their kids going out for the school bus with no coat on or just a ratty old sweatshirt? They need to have a coat. And you know what? When it's new, they feel like a million bucks. There's that too. One of the things we've talked about year after year is that sense of, I guess not even a belonging, but the appreciation and what they can then do and turn into at school, right? I mean, their grades. Yeah, you perform better. When you feel better, you perform better. And all that. Now, you stepped away from your full-time employment for a bit, retired, but yet you came back for this one? Well, I'm still volunteering for Operation Warm. I do a project with my local Rotary Club every year. Thank you for having me here. I told the folks I'd be happy to come up here and help promote this telethon again. Yeah, well, we appreciate it. It's always great seeing you. We're going to chat with you again coming up later on. But one of the things that stands out, guys, is, again, that $25 donation. You'll see that QR code on the bottom of your screen. Just zoom into that, click that, and then that'll take you to the donation page where you can do that $25 donation. Rich and Operation Warm, always great seeing you again. Thank you. One million coats. Is that the goal for Operation Warm throughout the year? We do about a million coats every year. Right, yep. And here in the Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin area, a good portion of coats will be going to those in need, guys. It is officially the Coats for Kids kickoff. It's happening today going through December 2nd. More Fox 6 Wake Up coming back after the break. Thanks, Rich. Appreciate all your hard work. Can make a cold winter day a whole lot better. And Fox 6's Coats for Kids is making it easy for everyone to help. Brian Cramp is at the Salvation Army Distribution Center showing off the brand new coats that your $25 donation can provide. Hey, Brian. And Derek, that $25 donation, you know, might be easy for some people, for a lot of people taking into consideration getting food on their table first and making sure their house is warm. Sometimes this is secondary. Rich, good seeing you again from Operation Warm. Been at this for 28 years or so. I know you've been affiliated with this for 10 years with us at Fox 6. These coats are nice. Yes. You know, and for $25, the donation, you know that these kids are going to get something very cozy. I'm just going to open this up a little bit first before we get into it. Different styles, outside and inside, different colors. The tag as we go inside. This is so important, isn't it? Made just for you. These are brand new coats. And when kids get a brand new coat, they feel like a million bucks. Yeah, and I love... Always hearing that, because this right there means the world. It's not just so they can find it, so they can have ownership. And ownership is a big part of it. Let's get to the styles. My goodness, I mean. Over 72 different color combinations every year, and they change up every year. And they change up a little bit. Let's go to this one here. A different kind of like a fleece inside. Cozy. And they all have hoods. They all have nice pockets. And for the kids, too, they get to come in and they get to pick it out. Or mom and dad get to come in and they get to pick it out. The one right behind it. Can you grab that one for us? I love this one. See, I would wear that one all day long. Well, it'd be a little small for you. It'd be a little tiny for me. My arm isn't going to fit in there. What does it mean to your team knowing that you are putting coats on so many kids that have been doing it for so long? Well, you know, we like to say it's more than a coat. As I said before, the kids feel like a million bucks. And when you feel good, you perform much better. So kids are performing better in school. They're looking forward to going to school. They can go outside and play on the playground. One of the worst things I ever saw was a school I was at one time where Kids who didn't have a coat had to sit in a chair and watch the children outside. On the playground, when it was 40 degrees and the kids are out there playing, but they couldn't go outside. That's horrible. Yeah, and there are so many kids out there that just want to go outside without a coat, too. And they need to know that this is Wisconsin. We need a coat, and this is a great way to do it. Those are teenagers. Those are teenagers. You know them pretty well, don't you? You know, in your time doing this, you've worked in different markets. What's special about Milwaukee and the way the Salvation Army is also helping out? Oh, absolutely. Well, the big thing that we have here is the partnership with Fox 6. And your viewers have been so generous over the years. I think last year we raised about $60,000. So, you know, that's that's thousands of coats that are being made available to the Milwaukee area for their children. Yeah, and we appreciate that work. You know, it goes back 42 years for us. Vince Gondel helped start this here at Fox 6. And I know that our meteorologists are going to chip in as well. There's more opportunities to see them. They'll also donate those coats. You can do that. Click that QR code on the screen right now or text FOX6 to CFK44321. Some different ways for you to donate. It is Coats for Kids kickoff today through December 2nd here from Fox 6 Six with a little help from Salvation Army and Operation Warm. More Fox 6 Wake Up coming back after the break. Good. Thank you so much, Cram. Alright, so we know that things are, my goodness, kind of warm this weekend, but soon enough it is going to be getting pretty cold out there and kids in our community are so going to need a nice warm winter jacket. That's where Steinhafels comes in. They're helping Fox 6 with our Coats for Kids drive. They're turning a day of giving into a whole lot of warmth. Brian Cramp has a sneak peek at a special coat collection event that will give you three chances to help local kids this winter. Hey there, Cramp. Yeah, and Nicola, three chances indeed that comes on November 18th with the details fully being ironed out and on our website soon. Andrew Steinhafels is joining us. I mean, you're fourth generation, right? I know that the five locations that you guys have with these blue barrels, you're going to be filling them. The team is going to be filling them. But you've been doing this with Fox 6 for nearly two decades, right? You were young when this started. What's it like for the family to continue this tradition with Fox 6 and Coats for Kids? Well, we're just excited to be able to give back to the community. We're in a community where Proud that the community supports us and our employee owners really get behind the cause so it's a lot of fun to be able to give back. Yeah you guys give back in many ways too. You know Nicola had said that that event's coming up. It's on the 18th actually. There's going to be three locations. I believe it's Greenfield, it's Waukesha as well as Menomonee Falls. This is usually when like you know our meteorologists come out so that the fans get to meet the the guys and Stephanie and Holly and but also it's a great time because there's incentive. So that means that they're coming out on the 18th. We're going to be possibly giving away some stuff this year. I hear some good tickets. Yes, I believe it's Disney on Ice and Monster Jam. It's your choice of those two. Yeah, so those are going to be on the 18th at three locations. Like I said, the details are still being ironed out, and they'll be on our website soon. But really, as a parent of three, you know what it's like. Those kids, they can't forget that jacket in the wintertime, but you're able to... provide that for them. Other parents only can do what they can to get food on the table. Essential that these coats are being given away this year. Yeah, it's been a warm fall this season, but you know, winter is coming. And so we got to make sure that the kids are taking care of this year. Yeah, the winter is coming too. I love the styles, don't you? I do. You know, I mean, the pinks, the blues, you know, the greens, the purples, the blacks, all the little bit of everything. Do you remember like when you were little and having that nice warm jacket and what What it was like having your jacket. Not that other guys, your other kids, having your jacket and going in and making sure that you were warm after recess or after playing outside. Yeah, always very proud, always into the bright colors and good styles out there. So, yeah, very, very cool to be able to pick your own jacket. Yeah. And somebody that played soccer like you outside, you knew that you had to dress warm. That's right. And make sure. So, all right, guys, on 18th, this is happening in Steinhoffs, three different locations. But up until then, we're going to see the blue barrels out at all five locations, correct? Correct. Okay. And that starts, so you guys typically open up the doors at what time? 10 a.m. 10 a.m. So starting today, it's already on. Coats for Kids kickoff is going on today, but these barrels hopefully will be filled. And every time it does fill, we'll go and we'll get those jackets and we'll bring them back here. It is Salvation Army, the distribution It's Steinhoffels, it's Landmark Credit Union, it's all the people that have been helping out for you guys more than 20 years and we appreciate that help, Andrew. Keep it going. The 18th is that big day. Check out fox6now.com for more details on that ticket giveaway on the 18th with Steinhoffels. More Fox 6 Wake Up coming back after the break. Thanks again. The Fox 6 Coats for Kids campaign is underway, and from local businesses to generous viewers, our community is coming together to help children stay warm. Brian Cramp spent the morning at the Salvation Army Distribution Center and joins us now to share how everyone can help. Brian, how was your morning? Oh, Jen, I got to tell you, every time that I'm at the Salvation Army Distribution Center, it puts a smile on my face because they're working so hard to make sure that not just during this time of the season, all year long, they are supporting our community in such positive ways. You know, this is the perfect time of year to have a coat drive because we're all going down into our basements. We're seeing what coats still fit the kids and maybe what we can donate. What are some of the easiest ways our viewers can chip in if they want to help? I love that you said that too, because we are finding those coats and that's exactly it. The easiest way I think is to kind of find those new and gently used coats that the kids might have outgrown, you know, or that we'd ever even got to, right? And grab those coats and find those barrels around city and then donate those. But that's one way. The other way is then to donate monetarily, right? So for just $25, that will get a child a brand new coat from Operation Warm. Who's been partnering on this event for the past 10 years? That is so great. I didn't realize you could donate money as well. I thought it was just the coats. I know that in my house we have different types of coats, right? Some are heavier set, some are lighter. Can we drop off all of these or are they looking for a certain type of coat? Yeah, all of it, right? Except for the spring. So if it's new or gently, use winter coats for small kids, even for adults. You can drop those off. Hats, Mittens, scarves, gloves, all of those are donation items that they're looking for this year. Primarily, we're going to be looking at the newer side of the coats, but if they're gently used, those can be taken as well. The nice thing is, too, if the coats haven't been washed in a while, they'll be washed before they're put on the racks. Actually, this past Last weekend, they had a distribution event, and 400 families stopped by. 1,200 coats were given away. So you know there's definitely a need, and that was on a 70-degree day. That's wonderful. I saw last week them preparing those big blue barrels that we associate with the Coats for Kids drive. They were doing that at the station. Where can people go to find where to donate their coats? Where can they find those barrels? Well, of course, fox6now.com, a great place to go. But also all Steinhafel's locations in the area, the five of those will have the blue barrels. And more than 35, I believe, Landmark Credit Union locations will have a barrel starting today. And that's going to go through the 2nd of December. You know, the goal is to bring the coats in. But also, like we talked about earlier on, monetarily, if you can't make it out, you can also do this. You can text CFK 44321 to donate today. And also, just go to our website. That's a great place for it. With the events that are coming up on November 14th at Landmark Credit Union in Brookfield, it's a great opportunity for you to score some tickets. If you're one of the first 100 cars in line, that's the 14th. And then on the 18th, Steinhafels is going to have an event at the Greenfield, Waukesha, and Menominee Falls locations. And that's when our meteorologists come out. And we're going to be giving away tickets as well, either to Monster Jam or Disney on Ice. So all great opportunities in fox6now.com, the best place to turn to find out more information. So great to see all these different businesses and groups coming together for a great cause. I'm so happy you highlight it every year. We're excited to get this drive going. Thank you, Brian. Yeah. Thank you, Jenna.