COATS FOR KIDS

Operation Warm, which receives support from the Rotary Club of Longwood, Pennsylvania, USA, and was founded by a club member, was initially tied into a millennial celebration that aimed to provide 2,000 new winter coats to children in need within the district. To achieve that goal, the club reached out to other area clubs to help with the distribution. The project's enormous success led to the creation of the nonprofit organization Operation Warm Inc. Today, Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs in 26 U.S. states participate in Operation Warm in their own communities. The organization's web site provides clubs and districts with tool kits to implement the project and offers the convenience of buying quality, inexpensive Operation Warm coats in a variety of sizes and colors, including coats made from recycled materials. Over 600,000 children have received coats from Operation Warm, which provides an opportunity for Rotarians to engage in hands-on service and provide immediate assistance to children in their community. Read more about it on the RI Web site.