“We’re here to support children in this community.”

— Jim Stone, MTSI

“We come here every day with the desire to help people when they can’t otherwise help themselves. This is just an extension of that.”

— Robert Young, president, Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics IAFF Local 2068

Firefighters and Friends, a group started by now-retired Deputy Fire Chief Willie Bailey 26 years ago, gathered at Penn Daw Fire Station on Monday, Aug. 13 to make sure students along Richmond Highway would have the supplies they need to go back to school, even if their families couldn’t afford to get them.

“Today we are packing and distributing backpacks for kids that go to schools that have a high population of students who can’t otherwise afford these school supplies, so that these students aren’t at a disadvantage as they start the school year,” said Robert Young, president, Fairfax Professional Firefighters and Paramedics IAFF Local 2068.

Young said by nature firefighters and paramedics are dedicated to community service. “We come here every day with the desire to help people when they can’t otherwise help themselves. This is just an extension of that.”

Retired fighter fighter Domenick Iannelli said, “We come out here and help the fire department and Will Bailey with the backpacks for kids, toys for tots and warm coats for winter.”

Counselors and teachers from schools with needy students in Fairfax County will come and pick up these supplies and take them to the school to distribute to the students who need them, Ianelli said.

According to Capital One Shopping Research, updated July 14, 2024, “For one child, back-to-school supplies cost $597 (K–12 average),” with a projected 2024 back-to-school household spending, K–12 average household spend of $918.

Jim Stone works for MTSI (Modern Technology Solutions Inc.), and is on the Social Responsibility Committee.

“We have a business in Alexandria,” Stone said. “We’ve been supporting Firefighters and Friends and many local charities for many years. We’re here to support children in this community.”

Lily Decampo is a family liaison from Mount Eagle School. 

“I’m here to pick up some supplies for our school,” Decampo said. “This will help us.” Decampo said she would distribute most of the items through the teachers.

Willie Bailey, retired deputy fire chief from Fairfax County started Firefighters and Friends 26 years ago, for numerous reasons he said.

“As a firefighter, we were running calls on Richmond Highway in the 90s during the holidays, and we could see these kids didn’t have anything. There were no Christmas trees or gifts or anything like that. So we started collecting toys. At different fire stations we raised some $2000 the first year and went and bought some toys and took them to the kids that didn’t have anything.

“Now 20-some years later we’re giving out thousands of toys every Christmas, we’re giving out 1300 backpacks with school supplies today, and [will give out] a total of about 4,000 brand new coats to needy families.”

To cover the costs of backpacks and school supplies, plus coats, plus toys, Firefighters and Friends must raise $150,000-160,000 each year. Bailey said donating monetarily helps the most. 

Go to https://www.ffandfriends2therescue.org/