Today, on the coldest day of the year, we had the privilege of joining forces with some truly incredible people to provide nearly 700 brand-new, beautiful coats to children across central Ohio. Sponsored by AEP Ohio and Macy's, this initiative brings law enforcement officers from Columbus, Dublin, Franklin County, Gahanna, and the US Marshals Service together to distribute these coats to children in need.
The Seventh Annual Starfish Assignment/AEP Ohio Coat Drive is our longest-running initiative. It began in 2018 at the request of officers who saw firsthand the struggles of kids in their patrol areas facing winter without proper coats. Since then, thanks to our amazing partners, we've been able to distribute nearly 4,000 coats, a testament to the compassion and dedication of everyone involved.
A heartfelt thank you to law enforcement officers, sponsors, and volunteers who made this day possible. We had such a great time coming together, packing up coats, talking about where they would be distributed, and who they were going to. Truly a blessing for everyone involved. Thank you for not only working to hand out these coats, but working to wrap these children in love during the harshest of seasons.
