User:Maurae/sandbox

Operation Warm is a non-profit organization based in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

Origins
The company was founded in 1998 by Dick Sanford, a businessman from Chadds Ford read an article in the local paper that talked about children here who were freezing while waiting for their school bus because they had no warm coats. After going out on his own and purchasing all 58 of the remaining new coats at a local children's clothing store, he realized he had no way of finding and contacting the children he wanted to give the coats to. Once he got in touch with his local church, they gave spread the word that he would be giving out coats and any of the people in need met up with him at the store where he originally bought them.

Having enjoyed the experience of seeing his donations being met with such heartfelt thanks, he took the idea of donating an even larger amount of coats to his local rotary club. His goal was then to put "2000 coats on 2000 kids" for, at the time, the upcoming millennium. At the success of the fundraising and distribution efforts involved in the first two waves of donations, Sanford decided to dedicate his time to the cause full time and created the company as it exists today.

Manufacturing and Distribution
Operation Warm distribute only new coats in an effort to benefit the children they help both physically and emotionally. For some this is the first new coat they will ever own. According to their website, coats are pre-packaged in boxes of six, based upon the size and gender and are shipped as requested by the organizations we serve. The boxes also contain an assortment created so that children who attend the same distribution receive varied colors -- avoiding the appearance of uniforms. One of the coat’s most popular features is a permanent name tag where the child’s name is written, ensuring the child knows the coat is indeed “mine”, as well as helping in identification in school or during other activities. If the coats were used or identical, it might be easy for them to feel embarrassed that it is obviously second hand or a charitable donation and therefore makes them stand out as disadvantaged on a playground or at a school bus stop.

Campaigns
After the first "2000 coats for 2000 children," Operation Warm has been steadily expanding their reach and efforts throughout the past decade.

As of 2012, they have distributed 1 million coats to children in need and immediately following the accomplishment they announced their "Next Million" campaign to reach another million children even more quickly than they reached their first.