{"id":3695,"date":"2025-05-18T16:30:25","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T15:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/operationwarm.org\/?page_id=3695"},"modified":"2025-10-01T18:44:13","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T17:44:13","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/operationwarm.org\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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You Have Questions. We\u2019ve Got Answers.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you can’t find the answer to your question, don’t hesitate to contact us.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Q. What is the difference between Operation Warm and a coat drive? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Operation Warm\u2019s mission is to provide\u00a0only brand-new<\/strong>\u00a0coats to children in need. Instead of collecting used coats as in a coat drive, we can turn monetary donations from donors into high-quality, brand-new coats for kids.<\/p>

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Since 1998, we have seen our coats inspire feelings of pride, excitement and joy. Operation Warm coats help raise the self-esteem and peer acceptance of children struggling in poverty. Every child deserves the right to feel confident and valued, no matter their economic background.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. What do you mean when you say \u201cMore Than a Coat? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Through serving millions of children in need across North America, we have seen that a brand-new coat, and all of our products (shoes & socks and sports bras) offer a child physical and emotional warmth, confidence to socialize and succeed, and hope of a brighter future.\u00a0 Operation Warm is dedicated to connecting people to essential resources in their communities. Since 1998, Operation Warm has used the coat as a bridge for families in need to access everything from flu shots to new books.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Why do you manufacture your own coats, shoes, and sports bras? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Controlling the manufacturing means we can provide high-quality products for a low cost. Each coat is carefully designed, sized and styled. Learn more about our coats<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0shoes<\/a> and sports bras<\/span>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. What ages, grades and sizes do you serve? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Because children come in a wonderful variety of sizes, so do our coats and shoes!<\/p>

We\u00a0provide boys and girls coat\u00a0sizes 2T up to Adult XXL for children in need between the ages of three and thirteen, which usually covers preschool through sixth grade.\u00a0<\/p>

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For shoes, we\u00a0provide boys and girls\u00a0sizes from 6 Toddler up to 4 Kids for children ages 2 through 3rd grade.\u00a0<\/p>

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Sports bras come in standard sizes XS-XL<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. What color are your products? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Each year, dozens of\u00a0different coat color combinations are carefully chosen. Our goal is to provide beautiful, colorful, stylish coats that are as bright as the smiles they produce.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Can I buy resources for my own family? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Operation Warm works with corporations, service clubs, faith-based institutions and other community organizations, to give these resources to kids in need all across North America. Unfortunately, we can\u2019t ship these products individually to families in need. You can check within your local community to see if there is a coat giving event planned in your area. If you are able to fund and want to help 36 or more children in your area, learn more about starting a Community Partnership program.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. How do you choose who to serve? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Operation Warm works with community partners to identify children in need. Not only does this make our organization more efficient, it ensures our gift goes to the kids that need them the most. Typically, the children who receive Operation Warm donated items attend a Title 1 school, a school where 40% or more of their students\u2019 families are at or below 150% of the federally prescribed poverty level, or are served through an organization supporting urgent need. Children may be identified by living in a shelter, or through a human service agency or other direct-service organization.<\/p>

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If you have identified a group of children in need, we can help you create your own fundraiser to gather donations that will be used directly for those children. To learn more, click to our Community Partnerships\u00a0page.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Is there really that much need? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sadly, there is more need than we can meet at this time. Nearly 16 million children live in poverty across North America. More than 2.5 million children are homeless each year in the U.S.1<\/sup><\/p>

1<\/sup>. Download\u00a0Services Matter pdf file<\/a>.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Is my donation tax deductible? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Absolutely! All donations to Operation Warm are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donations through our website automatically generate a receipt that can be used as proof of your donation. The Federal Tax ID number for Operation Warm is 38-3663310.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Where can I find out more about childhood poverty? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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We take pride in our transparency and utilize only accurate information from industry leaders to translate our ideas into action. You can review a list of our\u00a0research and citations<\/a>\u00a0here.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Does Operation Warm help children in Canada? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Yes, we send coats to children throughout Canada. Please note, all donation pricing is listed in US Dollars.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. How warm are your coats? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Warm! Surprisingly there isn’t an industry wide standard on warmth. Typically at retail you will see coats labeled as warm and warmer, on these scales our style of coat would be considered warmer. The important thing to remember is that personal warmth\/cold are relative. Our coats are used in the northern parts of Canada, all the way to the coast of Louisiana.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. How does Operation Warm keep 95% of every dollar focused on programs? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Operation Warm takes great pride in being a careful steward of donor dollars. 95% of every dollar goes to programming. We can achieve this because the vast majority of Operation Warm expenses are associated with the products themselves, logistics, and our staff that are implementing the program.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. Can all or a portion of my donation be refunded or returned? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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No. We cannot offer donation refunds or return of products. \u00a0Should you have additional coats or shoes, please consider donating to a local school, shelter, or nonprofit organization that serves children in need. \u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Q. What is Operation Warm's policy on the distribution of donated items? <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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Operation Warm is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to relieving human suffering through the donation of new clothing essentials. Donations made through this platform are considered charitable contributions in support of our mission. All items are required to be donated to under-resourced individuals and may not be resold.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t