History

In 1998, Dick Sanford read a story in a local paper that both angered and inspired him. The article mentioned local children freezing, while waiting for their school bus, because they had no winter coats. Puzzled how this could occur in a relatively affluent Pennsylvania community, he began to look at children on their way to school and noticed that many were in fact not wearing winter coats. With his own money, Sanford went to a local department store and bought 58 coats. With the help of the Longwood Rotary Club, they distributed the coats to local children who did not have them. As they say, the rest is history.

Since 1998, when it distributed 58 coats, Operation Warm has now provided a total of over 600,000 new coats to children in over 33 states across the country. We have also engaged in other philanthropic endeavors, including providing programs and making contributions to other charitable organizations in areas served by Operation Warm and which Operation Warm has determined provide a meaningful benefit. Now, as one of the largest nonprofits in the country distributing new coats, Operation Warm partners with a wide range of organizations to find and support children in schools, churches and other social service organizations, whose families cannot afford winter coats. By working with a large group of Strategic Partners, we have been able to rapidly expand our reach.

Operation Warm's dramatic growth, over the last decade, is a result of the combined efforts of people and organizations all over the country, who share our goal of helping children in need. In 2011 we anticipate providing 225,000 new winter coats to children.

Our programs have evolved, and in addition to serving more children than ever, we are working on philanthropy and community service projects with college and university students. We have developed a new coat, with a shell made from recycled bottles, and incorporated that into our new sustainable educational program for elementary school students. Today, at Operation Warm, we are doing more than ever to help our environment and our country's children in need.

What Children Think

Second Graders at the Chester County Family Academy Charter School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, when they received their new coats this winter said:

  • "We can wait for the buses and be warm."
  • "I love my coat; it is new."
  • "This coat is all mine; no one ever used it before."
  • "My Mom will be really, really, really happy that I have a warm coat."
  • "This is the bestest coat I have ever gotten from anyone."

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