As Winter Approaches, COVID-19 Creates Unprecedented Danger for Those in Need

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Americans have stepped up to help those in need by donating to their local food banks and supporting local relief efforts.

Now, with winter approaching, national nonprofit One Warm Coat is kicking off a campaign to raise awareness about the danger cold weather will soon create for our most vulnerable neighbors.

October 1 is One Warm Coat Day -- a day to educate Americans about the dangers associated with winter cold and encourage simple actions that can help save lives. To mark the event, One Warm Coat is encouraging everyone to register to hold a coat drive or make a donation.

"A coat may seem like a simple thing, but thousands of children and adults in communities across the country will need a warm, winter coat for the cold months ahead," said Beth W. Amodio, One Warm Coat's president and chief executive officer. "Shelter from the elements is a basic need, and One Warm Coat is working to collect and distribute coats across the U.S. to ensure that we can protect the health and well-being of as many people as possible."

The need is especially great heading into the 2020-21 winter season. An estimated 30 million Americans are unemployed and more than 1 in 8 American households are living in poverty. In every corner of our country, families are at severe risk – and the need for warmer clothing, combined with increased utility costs, will make the winter months more challenging for those who were already struggling, before the pandemic began.

Children are particularly susceptible to the cold because their small bodies must work harder to maintain a safe core temperature. With many students now remaining home due to COVID-19, coats are more essential than ever. Children from low-income families often wear their coats inside their residences, where they may not have working utilities or proper insulation.

For adults, a coat can provide warmth as they commute to work, often by foot or on public transportation. For men and women living on the street, a warm coat can mean the difference between life and death.

Last year, One Warm Coat provided more than 500,000 coats to people in need. Because of the unique circumstances this year, it is urging Americans to help now before it turns cold.

Individuals, community groups, and businesses can support One Warm Coat's efforts through its Coat Drive Program, which collects and distributes coats to children and adults in need in all 50 states.

Hosting a coat drive is simple. One Warm Coat provides all of the resources necessary to register, promote, and manage your drive and partners with nonprofits in each community to ensure every coat that's collected is delivered to someone in need. One Warm Coat is providing social distancing and safety tips to ensure everyone involved in the Coat Drive Program is safe.

One Warm Coat is also encouraging cash donations. Every $1 donated warms 1 person. To learn more, visit: https://www.onewarmcoat.org

One Warm Coat Day Partnerships
In celebration of One Warm Coat Day, national retailer Lands' End and The Weather Channel are kicking off an integrated campaign to spread warmth. Lands' End customers will receive 50 percent off one outwear item when they bring in a new or gently worn coat from October 1 -November 1 (Limited one item per coat donation, up to three per customer). Tune in to The Weather Channel for more information and interviews with One Warm Coat President & CEO, Beth W. Amodio, on October 1.

"With the added challenges presented by COVID-19, the initiative to provide warm coats to those who need them is more important than ever," said Nora Zimmett, EVP and Chief Content Officer at The Weather Channel television network. "We're honored to team up with Lands' End and One Warm Coat again to raise awareness for One Warm Coat Day and help keep people safe from winter's brutal elements."    

"As a leader in the outerwear industry, we are proud to partner with One Warm Coat and The Weather Channel for another important year of giving back to the community," said Matt Trainor, SVP Brand Creative, Lands' End. "Now more than ever, our employees and customers appreciate the opportunity to provide comfort and safety in the form of a warm jacket or coat."

Corporate sponsorship opportunities are available for this fall and winter. Visit One Warm Coat's website for more information.

About One Warm Coat
One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that provides free coats to anyone in need, without discrimination, and works to create awareness of the vital need for warm coats across the country. Through the Coat Drive Program, One Warm Coat provides tools and resources to empower volunteer-led and sponsored coat drives to collect coats, and partners with nonprofit agencies and schools across all 50 states to distribute those coats to children and adults in need. One Warm Coat also encourages sustainability by working with manufacturers and retailers to match overstock and irregular coats with agencies and schools across the country, where they are most needed. Since 1992, One Warm Coat has facilitated the collection and distribution of more than 6.6 million coats. One Warm Coat believes in the basic right to protection from the cold, for everyone.

Resources for Reporters
One Warm Coat can provide expert national spokespeople, as well as local heroes who host successful coat drives in their communities, to reporters seeking interviews.

To find the right source for your story, contact Peter Panepento:
[email protected]
(202) 531-3886

SOURCE One Warm Coat