Operation Warm is donating up to 10,000 coats statewide; Delawareans can visit de.gov/schoolclosets to help

SEAFORD, Del. – More than 470 West Seaford Elementary School students went home for winter break a little warmer on Thursday, because of the gift of a new winter coat.

The coats are among thousands being provided to Delaware students thanks to a partnership between Governor John Carney’s office, the Delaware Department of Education and nonprofit Operation Warm.

Secretary of Education Susan Bunting joined Governor Carney at West Seaford Elementary Thursday afternoon to distribute the coats.

“Preparing our students for success in school and life often means we need to meet more than their academic needs,” said Governor Carney. “This is another way to support our children and their families so they can arrive in our classrooms ready to learn. I am thankful for partners such as Operation Warm that help us meet these important needs.”

Operation Warm officials said they were eager to support Delaware’s need, and donated the coats at no cost to Delaware taxpayers.

“When the Governor approached us with the need to support 10,000 Delaware students, we knew we had to fulfill the challenge,” said Dick Sanford, Founder and CEO of Operation Warm. “Operation Warm has provided new coats to millions of children across the country, but the children of Delaware hold a special place in our hearts. This is where we served our first group of students nearly 20 years ago. Thanks to our generous partners, we are thrilled to be able to provide up to 10,000 brand new coats to help improve the lives of young children across the state.”

HOW TO HELP: Delawareans can visit de.gov/schoolclosets to learn how to help students in high-needs schools.

Operation Warm delivered other coats this week to Brandywine School District’s Harlan Elementary, Cape Henlopen School District’s Milton Elementary, Capital School District’s Towne Point Elementary, Christina School District’s Stubbs Elementary, Colonial School District’s Castle Hills Elementary and McCullough Middle, Indian River School District’s Georgetown and North Georgetown elementary schools, and Lake Forest School District’s Lake Forest South Elementary. Additional schools will receive coats in January.

In August, Governor Carney announced an initiative to stock basic-needs closets in 45 high-need Delaware schools.

Delaware’s basic needs closets provide elementary and middle school students across the state with increased access to free products designed to meet students’ needs so they can effectively participate in class. Each school’s basic needs closet has been stocked with products identified by districts and charter schools as essential to the wellbeing of their students, including hygiene products, school supplies, clothes, and more.

Delaware healthcare institutions and businesses statewide helped fund the closets, including Christiana Care, Bayhealth, Nemours, Incyte, Nanticoke, and Beebe Health Systems, as well as Cover Rossiter, EDiS, and Drinker Biddle. Delaware partnered with the nonprofit First Book to purchase the basic needs products at a reduced rate, as a part of the First Book First State partnership. Operation Warm was able to provide new winter coats thanks in part to funding from partners Good Samaritan Inc. and Welfare Foundation Inc.

For students such as those at West Seaford Elementary, Operation Warm’s efforts mean they now have a brand new, well-fitted coat that will keep them warm as they wait for the school bus or play outside.

“Our students come to us with many needs that affect their ability to learn,” said David Perrington, Superintendent of the Seaford School District. “Our schools need community partnerships such as this so we can support them in and out of the classroom.”

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Click here for photos from Thursday’s event.

Related news:
Governor Carney Coordinates Support for Basic Needs Closets for Students in High-Needs Schools

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