RICHFIELD, Minn — Outside of Richfield STEM Elementary School on a cold winter day, you will find Minneapolis Fire Captain Adam Graves doing what he can to keep kids warm.
"The need is huge," Graves said. "We find that I would say 75% of kids in the public school system need some sort of assistance for coats and we try to capture as many as we can in a year."
Graves runs the nonprofit Operation Warm in the Twin Cities, which gives away coats to kids in need.
"This is kind of in our DNA as firefighters," Graves said. "We love to help and any chance we can give back to our community, that's what we're going to do."
The organization is getting a little boost from one local man on a mission to make a difference. Josh Liljenquist goes out into the Twin Cities twice a day, seven days a week and films his interactions with people.
"That's how I learned social media and internet money I guess, and how much of a difference you could actually make and how much money is there in that field," Liljenquist said. "If you can figure out a way to take that money that you make and then put it back into the community, the possibilities are endless."
As the saying goes... "A good deed never goes unnoticed." In Josh's case, his good deeds have been noticed by a lot of people, gaining him more than 5 million followers in just one year.
"There are a lot of caring people out there and a lot of people don't actually like to do the fieldwork and do the stuff that I do," Liljenquist said. "But people do love to help so I'm the vessel for the people that watch my videos."
His videos range from him buying food for the homeless to providing someone with necessities.
Since he started more than a year ago, Josh has given away about $100,000 to Minnesotans in need. Even his parents were left scratching their heads as to how he does it.
"We're very proud, but also confused," said Josh's parents Julie and Trent Liljenquist. "How can you give away $100,000 and you're going to make more than that, he still has to pay his bills."
Josh makes a living through his marketing agency TakeOff Media which he co-founded. As for the money he gives away...
"Say I make $300 for a video, I go and spend $300 on food and give it away," Josh said.
Josh says his videos get a lot of love online because he's able to highlight a local small business or nonprofit while also helping people in need. He is known to leave a surprise for those who also are doing good deeds.
Josh surprised Captain Graves with $500 for Operation Warm, which will buy 600 coats for kids in need.
"That is the first time that we have gotten a donation on the spot like that," Graves said. "That was very unexpected and very awesome to say the least."
"I will always contribute my time, my effort and my equity to help a good cause," Liljenquist said.
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