Our Delaware Challenge is simple, it provide's new winter coats to every elementary school child living in poverty in the state of Delaware, which we estimate to be approximately 17,500 children. Our mission at Operation Warm (OW) is to provide new winter coats for children who are living in poverty.
Why is there a need to provide coats? Each year approximately 18 million children live in poverty in the United States. While current estimates suggest 20% of all children live in poverty - some indicators suggest that number will go up to 25% in coming years. In addition, Delaware averages 98 days with temperatures below freezing. That is over three months of bitter cold. The potential for illnesses brought on by cold temperatures can be greatly reduced by giving a child a warm winter coat. In 2010, 8,820 coats were distributed in Delaware, about half of the total number of elementary school children living in poverty in Delaware.
Operation Warm originally launched to address a local problem with underserved children in a Philadelphia suburb, the program has grown nationally to address the serious increase in need throughout the U.S. for a basic essential; a warm winter coat. Since its inception in 1998, OW has distributed coats in 39 states and in 2011 we will give out our one millionth new coat to a child in need. OW is the only national organization that provides new winter coats, and we will continue on this important mission because we know from firsthand and anecdotal experience that a new coat inspires confidence and strong self-esteem in the children we serve.
As part of OW Delaware Challenge, we are involving local Delaware high school and college chapters as well as unpaid interns to help us develop a sustainable statewide program for fundraising and volunteer support.
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