It starts with one.
Founded in 1992 by one woman with one coat to give, One Warm Coat is a national movement born from one simple act of kindness. Today, One Warm Coat is a thriving national nonprofit organization that maintains a steadfast commitment to humanitarianism, volunteerism, and environmental sustainability.
One Warm Coat strives to share warmth and kindness by fostering a culture of community involvement and volunteerism across the country. With a deep-seated belief in the power of collective action, One Warm Coat engages and supports thousands of volunteers each year to collect coats and provide them to children and adults in need. Every coat donated creates a warmer, more connected world. One Warm Coat partners with more than 1500 local nonprofit organizations across all 50 states, creating a robust network that efficiently distributes hundreds of thousands of coats annually.
Impact on Individuals
Donating a coat is a simple act of kindness that has a ripple effect, bringing warmth in more ways than one, wrapping our neighbors in kindness with every donation.
Receiving a coat offers more than just physical comfort – it’s a gesture of kindness. Each coat carries a message of hope, reminding recipients that they are cared for and
supported by their community.
Enviromental Sustainabiltiy
One Warm Coat is committed to promoting environmental sustainability through fashion circularity. By collecting and redistributing coats, the Coat Drive program reduces textile waste and keeps garments out of landfills, giving coats a second life. Through the Zero Waste Initiative, we’re working directly with manufacturers and retailers to reduce the waste of overstock, irregular, and sample outerwear that cannot be sold.
Values
One Warm Coat strives to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by providing comfort and hope to those who need it most.
- We believe in the basic right to protection from the cold
- We provide coats to people in need, free of charge and without discrimination or obligation.
- We treat the people we serve with dignity and respect.
- We promote sustainability through the reuse, repurposing and responsible consumption of outerwear.
- We create connections in local communities by fostering volunteerism.
- We appreciate and honor our volunteers and donors.
One Warm Coat is committed to maintaining and promoting a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where board members, staff, volunteers, donors, sponsors, and nonprofit partners are treated with respect, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, disability, education, or any other bias.