Making a Wish List for Children in Under-Resourced Communities with Operation Warm

Wish lists are a commonplace thing to see at the end of the year, often brimming with pleas for the hottest new toy or the latest technological gadget. Beyond the “want” items, winter wishes can also focus on what is needed most when the weather turns colder: warmth.

Operation Warm, an organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, connects children and families in under-resourced communities with vital necessities for the season, including winter coats and shoes. The nonprofit offers eligible organizations that serve children from pre-K through the 5th grade the opportunity to apply for a wish list in their communities.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the national child poverty rate in America is 16%. That’s millions of children facing daily challenges like transport poverty, food insecurity, housing insecurity or clothing insecurity. The latter can include things like winter coats, shoes and even sports bras.

Child poverty can have a devastating impact on the youth that fall into that category, as “the earliest years are critical in terms of future cognitive and emotional development and early health outcomes, and have long-lasting consequences on future health,” as reported by the National Library of Medicine.

After all, imagine what it would be like to attempt to go to school without shoes that fit properly on your feet for gym class or not having a warm coat on a winter morning while waiting for the bus. Simply having those items, without parents having to worry about the economic strain they could carry, could make a world of difference. (Children’s coats and shoes can cost upwards of hundreds of dollars, which many families simply do not have at their disposal.)

As Anna Stoiber, the Director of Foundation Relations for Operation Warm, explains: “We know that a brand-new coat doesn’t just help a kid get to school but enhances their academic success and self-esteem.” Stoiber has seen, firsthand the “joy of a kid putting on a new pair of shoes and seeing how fast they can run or high they can jump.”

That joy has been felt by the philanthropic donors who have ensured that children within the 1,950 communities served by Operation Warm get exactly what they need. Since its inception in 1998, the organization has served over 6 million children throughout the United States and around the world. The organization will also manufacture their own coats and shoes which cuts down on costs and waste. “We are being a responsible steward of funds…we’re not paying retail. It allows us to be price conscious as possible when providing shoes and coats to children.”

This is where long-term and unrestricted giving by way of donor-advised funds (DAFs) can really allow organizations like Operation Warm to expand their impact and reach their goals. “With our fundraising we are only able to fulfill 1 out of every 3 wish list requests, so that’s where donors really help us in so many different ways.”

“We know that our wish list will be over a million kids this year, but we also know there’s probably a million more who aren’t signed up,” she continues. When someone gives us an unrestricted gift, we can make a very tangible impact and support more kids in more communities. Without these donations, those wish list requests will just remain that: a wish.”

Photo courtesy of Operation Warm