Back-to-school in the South carries an undeniable charm, but it also brings familiar challenges. From freshly sharpened pencils to sneakers that must last through fall, many families across the region stretch every dollar. And with cooler days ahead, a warm coat can feel like a luxury many just can’t afford.
Enter One Warm Coat, a national nonprofit that turns closets into comfort zones. Over the past 30+ years, the organization has distributed more than nine million coats and diverted over 20 million pounds of textiles from landfills. Thanks to their extensive network — more than 1,500 nonprofit partners and thousands of coat drives nationwide — Southern communities are among their most active and generous supporters.
3 Easy Ways to Join the Movement
1. Donate a Coat
Don’t throw out your family’s outgrown or outdated outerwear! Instead, use the Donate Coats Map to find a drive near you. Before you make the trip, ask your neighbors, too.
2. Host a Coat Drive
Schools, churches, social clubs, and businesses can host their own drives. One Warm Coat makes it easy: register, collect donations, then deliver them to a local nonprofit partner.
3. Donate Funds
Just $1 = warmth for one person. These funds help purchase coats and support distribution through local organizations. You can find donation details here.
Why Your Help Matters — Perhaps Now More Than Ever
One Warm Coat’s most recent fiscal year (2023–2024) was powerful: 503,527 coats were distributed, 3,803 coat drives were held across all 50 states, and 1.25 million pounds of textiles were diverted from landfills. Yet the need remains vast. Among One Warm Coat’s nonprofit partners, 85% have reported an increased demand for coats, and 59% said they didn’t receive enough coats last year to serve all those in need.
In many Southern communities where poverty rates remain above the national average, these efforts are especially crucial. “Low-income families are disproportionately affected … For families already living paycheck to paycheck, even minor increases in expenses can mean hard choices,” says Beth Amodio, President & CEO of One Warm Coat.
So, as you flip through your family’s back-to-school to-do list, add one more: Give the gift of warmth to families in need.
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