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Lt. Johnny Leatherwood, with the Blount County Fire Department, said there are no words to describe the feeling that comes from helping someone.

"You get a blessing from it," he said.

The county's firefighters have been working for 14 years to help area residents through the Coats for Our Community program. Firefighters collect coats to give to anyone who needs one.

They raise money through yard sales and auctions to purchase new coats and take donations from the public.

The Coats for Our Community program helped nearly 2,000 people stay warm last year, Blount County Fire Chief Doug McClanahan said.

Anyone can get a coat -- no questions asked -- at Station No. 7 under one condition -- that they have a working smoke alarm or if they don't they let firefighters come install one.

"It is an extension of our fire prevention efforts," McClanahan said. "We have one documented save (because of the coat program)."

This Saturday firefighters are hosting an auction at Fire Station No. 7 to raise money to buy coats.

How to help

n Attend the auction

The Coats for Our Community auction fundraiser is Saturday at 10 a.m. The event will be at Fire Station No. 7, 5156 Sevierville Road. Doors open at 9 a.m., and lunch will be available on site. Money raised at the auction will be used to purchase coats.

n Donate

Anyone who wants to donate a new or clean used coats for the program can drop them off at any Blount County fire station. Firefighters said extra-extra large sized men and women's coats are especially needed.

To make a monetary donation, send checks to Blount County Fire Protection District, P.O. Box 4488, Maryville, TN, 37802. Anyone sending monetary donations should make a note that gift is for the Coats for the Community program.