LAFDGear.com

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LAFDGear.com is an online store operated by the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association that offers hundreds of Los Angeles Fire Department related items including clothing for men, women and children. Other gift items available include patches, stickers, bags, toys, hats and caps. Items can also be purchased at their brick and mortar store in Los Angeles, California, and according to David Marino, President of the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association, all of the proceeds of the sales from both the store and the website go to the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund.

The Fund, which is dedicated to helping firefighters and their families in times of crisis, has been around for 104 years. For about 15 years, LAFD merchandise has been available to firefighters in the general public at the Los Angeles store.   Now, the items are available to anybody across the country through their online store at LAFDGear.com. Each week, the online store offers some of its merchandise at sale prices, and one item that is not usually available to the public, but is available at LAFDGear.com is the official LAFD on-duty t-shirt.

"Well, I come here at least every month, just to buy my work shirts. It goes back to the widows and orphans, so I know my money goes to the right place, to the right organization. And then, after I get my stuff, I get stuff for my family members like my father, my mother, my sister," explained Firefighter Sal Castillon with the Los Angeles Fire Department.

LAFDGear.com is one of the many ways the Los Angeles Firemen's Relief Association raises money for the Fund.

David Marino explained, "We give away over a million dollars a year supporting widows and orphans and 250 families out there that are in need of help in some way, shape or form, whether there's medical needs, DME, whether it's hospital beds. The needs that are out there are tremendous for a lot of the firefighters, and we are fortunate enough to have this organization provide that help for the LAC firefighters and their families."

"Eventually, we are all going to need some help. Hopefully, you are never in that situation, but if you are in that situation, you know that there's an organization and by me at least buying t-shirts, I know that I'm helping in some form or way," added Firefighter Castillon.

To assist the Widows, Orphans and Disabled Firemen's Fund, please visit www.LAFDGear.com.

For those in Southern California who would like to visit the store in person, it is located at 815 Colorado Boulevard, 1st Floor, in Los Angeles.

Contributors to this story:
Barbara Brooks - Video Story
Joseph Cusick - Camera/Editor
Renee Marquart - Text Story


Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com