For the past decade, the Centerville Rotary Club has been a champion of warmth and generosity, ensuring children in need have access to high-quality, brand-new winter coats. Since 2013, their partnership with Operation Warm has helped serve more than 5,800 children, keeping kids warm as they walk to school and wait for the bus on cold winter mornings.
To mark this milestone, we spoke with Ron Hollenbeck, a key leader in this initiative, to reflect on the impact of this partnership.
Q: Can you tell us how the Centerville Rotary Club first became involved with Operation Warm?
I was a member of the Rotary Club in Kennett Square, PA. It was there that I met Dick Sanford, Operation Warm’s founder, and was introduced to the organization. Dick asked if I would represent OW at a Nashville Rotary PETS conference, as well as help with the distribution of coats in the Chester County area. After moving to Ohio in 2012, I sought out a local Rotary club. I joined the Centerville Rotary Club and was the Community Services Director during my first two years there. I introduced the club to OW, and the rest is history. Many members have stepped up to lead the initiative during the past 12 years, and many members have made significant contributions to the OW cause. The club has firmly embraced OW as evidenced by their donation of almost 6000 coats to the local non-profit Hannah’s Treasure Chest (HTC).
Q: Since 2013, the club has donated nearly 6,000 coats. What does it mean to you and your fellow Rotarians to have made such a lasting impact?
It means a great deal to our members. Winters can be brutally cold in SW Ohio. Just knowing that we are helping children stay warm and in school means a lot to Centerville Rotarians. So much so that we dedicate all “Happy Dollars” collected during one of our calendar quarters to purchase coats from OW. This is supplemented by funds from a District grant, as well as club members’ individual contributions. The ongoing purchase of coats reflects Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”, and the club hopes to continue to support this activity well into the future.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or story about a child or family who received a coat?
One memorable moment that stands out involves a local family facing financial challenges. Like many parents, they were doing their best to provide for their children, but as the weather turned colder, purchasing winter clothing became difficult. Through our partnership, we were able to provide new coats for their children, helping ease that burden and ensuring they stayed warm during the winter months. The family shared that this support made life a little less stressful, and it’s moments like these that remind us why this work is so important.
Q: Looking ahead, how does Centerville Rotary plan to expand its impact in the community?
What a timely question! Centerville Rotary Club has a golf outing each May. The primary charity selected for this year’s event is Hannah’s Treasure Chest. We’re hoping that attendees/sponsors will recognize the great cause Centerville Rotary is supporting and provide us with additional funding that we can use to purchase even more coats. We’re hoping to create additional awareness of Operation Warm by those in attendance.
Community in Action
For more than 10 years, the Centerville Rotary Club has shown what’s possible when a community comes together. Their dedication ensures that children receive more than just a coat —they receive warmth, confidence, and hope. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this incredible partnership!
Interested in starting your own community managed partnership with Operation Warm? Visit operationwarm.org/communitypartners.
