Message from our Executive Director

For Operation Warm, 2021 led us to reach partnership and impact goals we have never before achieved. Thanks to the efforts of our team, corporate and community partners, donors, and volunteers, nearly 600,000 children received the gift of a brand-new winter coats and/or a pair of athletic shoes. We are proud of all that we accomplished in 2021 but recognize that we must intensify our efforts to serve children and families who are struggling to make ends meet in today’s uncertain economic climate.

As it was for so many across the globe, continuing to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic was a turbulent experience for us at Operation Warm. In the United States and Canada, some schools were open, some were closed, some of our programs took place in person, some were held virtually, supply chain challenges seemed to show up every day, and inflation increased our program costs. Still, we continued our mission to provide #MoreThanACoat to 2,100 communities nationwide. In fact, the obstacles we faced made our mission of bringing communities together to support children even more important—and challenged us to think creatively to achieve our goals. Limits on in-person events led us to partner with athletes and social media influencers in 2021. Our partners also held modified in-person events, from outdoor parades to video conferenced fashion shows. And our shoe program continued to grow, giving more children a new reason to smile. But even with this year’s record accomplishments, for every child we serve, there are thousands more children on our Wish List who have outgrown their coats and shoes from last year. This need will continue to push our teams to find new ways to fundraise, new organizations to partner with, and new strategies to serve our 5 millionth child this year. Warm coats and shoes offer a way to connect. They are an opportunity to light up a child’s and a volunteer’s eyes. And they inspire community change by bringing together caring individuals and organizations to build a brighter future. That is why our mission is so important—and why we are committed to providing #MoreThanACoat to even more children and communities this year. We look forward to connecting with you, in your community.