Can a miracle happen twice in Maine? Thanks to Operation Warm and Aid for Kids, it can. More than 6,500 brand new winter coats have arrived in Maine to be provided to children living in poverty across the state.
Operation Warm’s mission is to provide new winter coats to children in need across the United States. This is the second year Operation Warm has partnered with Aid for Kids. 
FOR THE CHILDREN — Operation Warm and Aid for Kids have more than 6,500 brand new winter coats to be provided to children in need.
Aid for Kids first called Operation Warm last winter, desperate to find coats for the children they serve. The all-volunteer agency founded by Dawn Degenhardt, her family and friends in rural Maine, where snowfall averages 97 inches.
Operation Warm initially could not respond to Aid for Kids’ request. Operation Warm ships coats to communities based on where money is raised and historically Operation Warm has struggled to raise funds for Maine. Then, a miracle happened. An anonymous donor provided funds to provide coats to where the need was greatest.
“A new coat means so much to [underprivileged] children in rural Maine, where the need is great and the winters are harsh,” said Carey Palmquist, executive director of Operation Warm. “Fortunately, an anonymous donor has now come through twice to provide coats to Maine children.”
Dannette Ellis, vice president of Aid for Kids is grateful.
“Our partnership with Operation Warm has allowed us to offer high-quality coats to low-income children across the state,” she said. “Last year, we received overwhelming thanks from grateful recipients and we are so excited to help even more children this year.”
Aid for Kids will look for help in distributing the 6,500 coats in coming weeks from its over 60 nonprofit and school partners across the state.
“My hope is that more individuals, foundations and businesses will join us in the future as we try to support the thousands of families struggling in Maine,” said Palmquist. “Then, we can send even more coats earlier in the winter season.”
