National Share the Warmth Day – October 20, 2026

Awareness

History
Timeline
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Importance
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National Share the Warmth Day rallies communities every third Tuesday of October. This nationwide day of action, spearheaded by One Warm Coat, ensures everyone has access to the comfort and protection of a warm coat. Join a local coat drive, donate financially, or spread awareness to help share warmth with those most vulnerable.

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.

National Share the Warmth Day timeline

1992

Lois Pavlow Begins a Coat Drive

Pavlow has one coat she wants to give away but can't find anywhere to donate her coat. She begins holding a coat drive each year over Thanksgiving weekend in San Francisco, CA.

1999

An Inspired Idea

Sherri Wood hears about Pavlow’s annual coat drive and feels inspired to hold more than one coat drive a year. Wood approaches Pavlow and asks if she can make the coat drive bigger!

2002

It's Official

One Warm Coat becomes an official national 501(c)3 organization.

2017

The Holiday is Created

One Warm Coat launches One Warm Coat Day (now known as National Share the Warmth Day) to create awareness of the need for warmth and encourage individuals across the country to make a difference in their community.

Today

Sharing Warmth, Spreading Kindness

Since its inception in 2017, National Share the Warmth Day inspires thousands of acts of kindness and provides hundreds of thousands of coats to people experiencing poverty.

How to Observe National Share the Warmth Day

Give money
Every $1 donated warms one person and shares kindness and comfort with someone in need. Donate here. #warmthstartswithone
Give coats
Clean out your closets and search by zip code to find a place near you to drop off coats. #sharewarmth
Give time
Make a tangible impact in your local community by collecting coats for children and adults in need. One Warm Coat provides all the resources needed for success! #sharingwarmth

5 Facts About National Share The Warmth Day

Warming hundreds of thousands
Since National Share the Warmth Day launched in 2017, it has provided warmth to more than 350,000 children and adults.
Decades of giving
One Warm Coat has supported 60,000 coat drives since 1992.
Millions of coats collected and distributed
One Warm Coat has facilitated the collection and distribution of 9 million coats since 1992.
Sustainability in action
Each year, One Warm Coat’s programs keep more than 1 million pounds of textiles out of landfills.
An impressive environmental legacy
Since 1992, One Warm Coat’s programs have kept 22 million pounds of textiles out of landfills.

Why National Share the Warmth Day is Important

Everyone should have shelter from the elements
The need for warmth is greater than ever, and you can help. Currently, 37 million, or 11% of all Americans are living in poverty and struggling to afford basic necessities. National Share the Warmth Day brings awareness to the incredible need and provides opportunities for individuals and organizations to share warmth with children and adults across the country by organizing coat drives, donating gently worn coats, and making financial contributions.
It enables anyone of any age to make a difference
On National Share the Warmth Day, everyone can make a difference in their community. National Share the Warmth Day is a nationwide day of awareness and action dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to the warmth, comfort, and protection they need to thrive. 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.
We can help people in need in our local communities before the winter cold sets in
Share warmth before the cold sets in. National Share the Warmth Day is observed annually on the third Tuesday in October to create national awareness of the need for warmth and share actionable ways people can ensure everyone in their community has access to the warmth, comfort, and protection they need to thrive. Individuals and organizations across the country are encouraged to donate coats, hold coat drives, and make financial donations to share warmth with children and adults in need ahead of the coldest months of the year.