Operation Warm - Providing brand-new coats and shoes to the children who need them most.

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Anna Stoiber, Development Director with Operation Warm, who highlights the nonprofit organization and their mission of "providing warmth, confidence, and hope through basic need programs that connect under-resourced children to the community resources they need to thrive." During the interview, Anna shares how the organization began in 1998, and how their efforts have expanded from providing coats to now including athletic shoes and sports bras, distributing over 7 million items through partnerships with companies like FedEx and International Paper, community organizations, and other nonprofits. The organization uses an efficient logistics system to plan events where children can select new items that fit them, creating meaningful connections between volunteers and youth while improving school attendance and confidence. Supporters can contribute through individual donations starting at $25 or corporate partnerships, with more information available at operationwarm.org.

Operation Warm's Expanding Community Impact
Anna Stoiber, Development Director of Operation Warm, explains that the organization was founded in 1998 by Dick Sanford who initially provided 58 coats to children near Philadelphia, and since then the organization has grown to provide 7 million coats and other necessities to children in need. She describes how Operation Warm has evolved beyond coats to include athletic shoes with two pairs of socks in 2020 and sports bras in 2023, all based on feedback from community partners about essential items needed by children in their programs.

Operation Warm: Community Clothing Support
Anna explains that Operation Warm connects with local organizations supporting children in need, providing garments as an extra basic need beyond clothing, food, and shelter. In Tennessee, partnerships with companies like FedEx, International Paper, Subaru, and firefighter departments have distributed over 25,000 coats and shoes to children in the past two years. The program creates meaningful connections between volunteers and children at events where kids can choose new, colorful items that fit them, creating moments of joy and showing children that their community cares about them.

Operation Warm's Outreach and Support
Anna explains Operation Warm's logistics for providing coats and shoes to children, using an algorithm to predict sizes and needs for schools, with direct shipping through FedEx to reach even rural communities. The planning process typically takes 6-8 weeks for full-service events, though direct shipments to community organizations can be arranged more quickly. Anna outlines various ways to support their efforts, from individual $25 donations (covering one coat or pair of shoes) to corporate partnerships, with options for fundraising through their website where supporters can set goals and receive toolkits with promotional materials.

Operation Warm's Community Impact Success
Anna shares that Operation Warm receives excellent feedback from corporate partners, with 100% of corporate volunteers expressing interest in participating again, and partners like FedEx and the First Lady of Tennessee's office returning because of the meaningful connections made. Jeremy emphasizes that beyond providing coats and shoes, the program builds community through relationships between volunteers and youth. Anna adds that feedback from schools is particularly positive, noting that the "newness factor" of items makes a significant difference for children who may have never owned something brand new, improving school attendance, focus in class, and confidence.

Operation Warm Community Feedback Initiative
Anna emphasizes the importance of community feedback in keeping Operation Warm's products and programming fresh and impactful, encouraging donations of any size and input on their offerings. She explains that innovation is one of their core values as they strive to be efficient and effective. Jeremy concludes by asking where people can connect with Operation Warm, and Anna directs them to operationwarm.org and their social media channels where people can donate or partner with the organization.

So, visit https://operationwarm.org to learn more about and get involved with Operation Warm.
https://www.facebook.com/OperationWarm/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/operationwarm/
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