National Share the Warmth Day, observed annually on the third Tuesday in October, is a nationwide day of awareness and action dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to the warmth, comfort, and protection they need to thrive. Led by national nonprofit One Warm Coat, this day mobilizes individuals and organizations across the country to donate coats, hold coat drives, and make financial donations to share warmth with children and adults in need. Together, we can turn compassion into action and create a warmer, more equitable world—one coat at a time.
History of National Share the Warmth Day
Founded in 1992 by one woman with one coat to give, One Warm Coat is a national movement born from one simple act of kindness. Today, One Warm Coat is a thriving national nonprofit organization that maintains a steadfast commitment to humanitarianism, volunteerism, and environmental sustainability.
One Warm Coat strives to share warmth and kindness by fostering a culture of community involvement and volunteerism across the country. With a deep-seated belief in the power of collective action, One Warm Coat engages and supports thousands of volunteers each year to collect coats that are provided to children and adults in need. Every coat donated creates a warmer, more connected world. One Warm Coat partners with more than 1,500 local nonprofit organizations across all 50 states, creating a robust network that efficiently distributes hundreds of thousands of coats annually. Through the robust network of nonprofit partners, donated items are distributed in the communities where they are collected to any person in need, without charge or discrimination
One Warm Coat promotes environmental sustainability through fashion circularity. By collecting and redistributing coats, the Coat Drive program reduces textile waste and keeps garments out of landfills, giving outerwear a second life. And through the Zero Waste Initiative, One Warm Coat works directly with manufacturers and retailers to accept and distribute overstock, irregular, and sample outerwear that cannot be sold.
One Warm Coat strives to make a tangible difference in people’s lives by providing comfort and hope to those who need it most. National Share the Warmth Day brings nationwide awareness to the need for warmth, and offers actionable ways Americans can ensure everyone has access to the warmth, comfort, and protection they need to thrive.
