At Operation Warm, we believe in the power of collaboration to create lasting change for children and families in need. That’s why we’re thrilled to partner with other nonprofit organizations who help us expand our mission, and together, make a larger impact supporting children in need. We recently partnered with Feed the Children, a global nonprofit on a mission to create a world where no child goes to bed hungry. Keep reading to learn directly from them about their mission, our partnership, and the incredible impact we’re making together.
Q: Can you provide background on Feed the Children’s mission and history?
Since 1979, Feed the Children has been committed to ending childhood hunger. The organization believes that no child should go to bed hungry, and so it provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive.
Through our programs and partnerships, we feed children today while helping families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, Feed the Children distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, Feed the Children expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene and training in sustainable living.
Feed the Children is driven to pursue innovative, holistic and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity and poverty.
Q: How did the partnership between Feed the Children and Operation Warm begin?
Operation Warm and Feed the Children have partnered together since 2017. Through our partnership, we’ve been able to provide more than 30,000 coats. We work every day to provide children and families with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive. By working together, we are able to provide children with food to fill their bellies, resources to help parents, and coats to keep them safe from the harsh cold. The gratitude expressed by families at events and in our Food & Essentials Hubs who receive these items is so moving. We value our partnership with Operation Warm and know together, we are making a difference for thousands of children.
Q: Can you share more about the Holiday Hope event and what made it special this year?
Holiday Hope is special because it highlights the impact partnerships can make. During this one-day event, which is designed to ensure local community members have the resources necessary to celebrate the holidays, numerous organizations come together to serve Los Angeles residents. The Magic Johnson Foundation, Feed the Children, Operation Warm, Mattel, Campbell’s, StarKist, and many other partners came together to serve more than 800 families in a fun, family-friendly environment. We had kids dancing in their car seats and having fun. The adults, especially the mothers, were emotional as they made their way through the line. Their cars are loaded with food, toys, coats, and other items just for their family. It’s a day of celebrating community and togetherness.
Raeleigh, a mom of three, attended the Holiday Hope event and said “it's ridiculous the amount of money that it's taking to just take care of a family these days. Just the regular necessities and paying bills, getting groceries, those things add up so much. To be able to come out here and get some of the things we need. It's unbelievable. It's amazing. So, I appreciate you guys.”
Q: What is the impact of this partnership?
The impact of our partnership is immeasurable and far-reaching. We have been able to distribute warm coats through Feed the Children’s Food & Essential Hubs at schools across the country. By working together, we are providing thousands of students and families access to not only food to nourish them, but also household resources and coats to keep them safe and warm. We know that it takes all of us working together to defeat childhood hunger and provide these children with what they need to grow and thrive. We are so thankful for Operation Warm's partnership.
More Than a Coat: How Collaboration Changes Lives
For many kids, it’s more than a coat, and it’s more than food—it’s the chance to attend school, where those two meals might be the only ones they get that day. It’s a step toward feeling safe, connected, and ready to learn. Together, Operation Warm and Feed the Children demonstrate how partnerships can unite to create lasting change, bringing real impact to children and their communities. At Operation Warm, we are so grateful for all this partnership has enabled us to achieve over the years.
This collaboration is a powerful example of what’s possible when nonprofits join forces—combining resources, passion, and vision to make a difference. Each coat, each meal, and each act of care adds up to so much more: it’s a message of hope, a sense of connection, and the opportunity for every child to thrive.
