One Warm Coat is a national non-profit organization that collects and distributes coats to people in need. Their goal is to provide warm coats free of charge to help people live productive lives. They encourage various organizations, including government entities, to host coat drives. The "Coats from the Capitols" initiative invites state governments to organize coat drives for their staff and communities from October to December 2009. One Warm Coat will provide support and work with local agencies to distribute collected coats.

1. Coatsfrom the Capitols

2. One Warm Coat’s Mission StatementOur goal is to provide any person with a warm coat, free of charge. Providing this simple, yet vital, need helps people live productive lives year round.We support and encourage coat drives. We are warming communities . . . one coat at a time.

3. How it WorksOne Warm Coat is a national non-profit organization that supports and encourages coat drives. We are a volunteer-led, grassroots organization that is powered by thousands of local organizers who create a coat drive in their community.One Warm Coat helps individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country collect coats and deliver them to local agencies that distribute them free, to people in need. We’ve worked with over 1,000 agencies throughout the country to distribute coats.Since inception, more than 1 million coats have been collected under our banner.

4. What We’ve Been DoingThe White House staff organized a One Warm Coat DrivePresident and Mrs. Bush meet with Sherri Lewis Wood, National Coordinator of One Warm Coat on December 22, 2008http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081222-2.htmlOne Warm Coat named a Daily Point of Light Honoree on December 22, 2006ABC’s Good Morning America “Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive” in partnership with Burlington Coat Factory - 2007 and 2008“Confessions of a Shopaholic” The world premier of this Disney movie was the perfect opportunity for a One Warm Coat Drive. Over 400 coats were donated by stars and guests.Star Isla Fisher donated the first coat.

5. Coats from the CapitolsGovernment employees serve as goodwill ambassadors for the communities they represent and serve every day. Recognizing your intrinsic commitment to better your communities, One Warm Coat has created the Coats from the Capitolsinitiative, designed to inspire and involve local state governments to organize coat drives that will provide warm coats to those in their state that need them the most.

6. How to ParticipateEach state government is invited to host a coat drive for their staff and families during October - December, 2009. (Date can be selected by each state.)One Warm Coat will match each drive with a local social service agency, if needed, to distribute the coats. One Warm Coat will supply each location with banners and box labels for donation locations, building a cohesive campaign message nationwide.

7. Participation BenefitsAnyone can participate in the coat drives, as there is absolutely no financial contribution involvedCollect coats for those in need right in your own communityPosition your local government as good community citizens National media coverageNational press coverage announcing the campaign

8. News and photographs posted on OWC platform