We'd Like to Thank the Academy...!

We'd like to thank ...TechSoup  and the wonderfully wired (and wireless) people who included Albert's Story in their recent awards for the 2011 Digital Storytelling Challenge. TechSoup was founded in 1987 on the belief that technology is a powerful enabler for social change. We agree! We are so touched by the top prize winner Mountaintop Library Expands Horizons (Room to Read). We think you will be, too! Thank you, TechSoup, for guiding us and other nonprofits across the globe in the creation of deeply meaningful programs that support our causes.

The more we get together... the WARMER they'll be!

We LOVE it when other groups' efforts connect with ours - and when ours connects to even more groups - to make warm coats available to those in need! Meredith C., Editor-In-Chief of the Compassion Fashion Project blog recently shared that the 10/20 Project in AR gave Compassion Fashion coats for their Hope Cottage in Searcy. "We feel so lucky," said Meredith, "to share in [this] wonderful coat drive." She added a "big thank you to Burlington Coat Factory and Old Navy of Arkansas for their participation." By our math, that's FIVE degrees of connection, working together to meet the need for warm coats! Fantastic!

Spotlight: Over-Achievers in New York!

Nancy C., the coat drive organizer for the Syska Hennessey Group in NY, happily shared that her firm's coat drive collected 3 times as many coats as originally hoped! Because they collected so many items for children, women and men, their drive benefited two agencies in their area! Nancy shared that it "was a wonderful experience." We agree, Nancy! It IS wonderful to witness generosity that exceeds our dreams -- like the results of your coat drive! Just seeing the boxes and boxes - and boxes - of your coats brought a HUGE smile!

Warming Their Communities... TWO Ways!

The Utah Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing recently showed us how they make things warmer in their communities two ways! They work to provide deaf and hard of hearing people with the cutting-edge resources necessary to navigate their community - and they signed up to hold two coat drives in support of Taylorsville and its surrounding area! We are proud to be part of the critically important work they do to bring warmth to those in need  - and we thank Program Manager Eleanor McCowan for telling us about it and for providing us with this unique American Sign Language phrase, which we proudly share with you!

Warming Communities - One great FAMILY at a time!

Niklas J recently sent this heart-warming note: "Here are some pictures from the coat drive I did at my school. I made copies of these little coats and let the kids color them and decorate my board. I had a great time and enjoyed helping my community." His mom, Laura, shared "I was happy we found your website with all your wonderful tools...We both found how easy it is to help the community and plan to do much more in the future."  

Niklas, thank you for sharing pictures of the AWESOME way you got other kids involved in collecting coats! And, Laura, thanks for the feedback on our tools! We put them online especially to help dedicated, busy families like yours collect and distribute warm coats with ease. From our One Warm Coat "family" to yours: great job - and thanks for sharing your story!

Warming Hearts, Warming Lives!

Professor Patricia Halpin and her students are merging science with community service to make a big difference in NH this winter! Through the UNH Manchester’s Diversity of Life course and Warmth From the Millyard program, students learn that a body temperature reduction of only 1 or 2 degrees leads to disorientation, lowered reaction times and dangerous hypothermia. They also learn how to solve the problem. (With warm coats, of course!) Thank you, UNH Manchester, for bringing together the science of warmth and community service in an engaging and educational way! You’ve earned an A+ in our book! (P.S. We LIKE them on Facebook. We think you will, too!)

Be Our Valentine!

One legend says that the original Valentine was a caring man who wrote warm words of encouragement on small notes and gave them to those in great need. Why not let your donated coat speak for you this V-day? As everyone knows, a warm coat is "worth a thousand words" (and much more) on a cold winter's day!

Disney Stars Madison, Mickey and Minnie Donate Coats!

Good Morning America was the "happiest place on earth" recently! Disney stars Madison Pettis and Mickey and Minnie brought loads of warm coats to add to our giant donation box! Thank you, Disney friends and Warm Coats & Warm Hearts for helping us collect over 200,000 coats during this important drive. (Help us spread the warmth! YOU and your friends can donate coats at an area Burlington Coat Factory store through Sunday, February 13th and make YOUR town one of the happiest places on earth! )

Appreciate Your Team With a One Warm Coat Certificate!

You and your team put the "drive" in coat drive! Have you gotten your Certificates of Appreciation this year? (Have you requested additional certificates for key members of your coat drive team?) If not, click Share Your Success and complete our short request form. One Warm Coat team member Larinda will happily create this special thank you for contributing your time, energy and organizing power in the collection and distribution of warm coats this year - and send it with our heartfelt appreciation for all you do.

The Gift of Giving

Gifts to Give in MA answers the question, "what if there were a place where kids could experience - through their doing - the power of giving and service?" This amazing agency offers area students a full service-training program based in sound business principles and led by community business leaders. For many years, their winter projects have included the collection and distribution of warm coats. Thank you, Gifts to Give, for sharing your gifts with One Warm Coat and the SouthCoast communities year after year!  

Advance Planning Meets Extreme Need

If you have extra time to read this today, it may be because your employer or school declared a "snow day." It's a great time to tell you about the warm-hearted and wise folks at Crutchfield, whose experience with last winter's severe weather led them to hold their workplace coat drive earlier this time. Tommy Kinstle shared the secrets to their drive's success: working "with a lot of caring people" AND doing some serious advance planning! Our hearts are warm today, thinking of the Crutchfield team in VA and all our coat drive organizers whose continued commitment makes extreme winter weather a little easier to bear for people in need.

Happy to be "Part of the Solution!"

Look for us on page 122 of this month's Redbook magazine! We're featured in "Be Part of the Solution," a section that offers 6 great ways to help others stay warm this winter. Thank you, Redbook, for publishing our message and showing others how easy it is to make a difference!