Media Contact: Emily Batchelder (202) 727-7972
Serve DC – The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism is hosting the One Warm Coat (OWC) drive – a national community-service effort to collect clean, reusable coats and jackets for donation to local children and adults free of charge.
“The Administration is thrilled to continue our partnership with One Warm Coat,” said Amy Ward, Executive Director of Serve DC. “This year, we’re working with Virgin Mobile and the Washington Nationals to make this year’s effort even more successful. As it gets colder, it’s important to remember our neighbors, and the One Warm Coat drive is an excellent way to give back this season.”
Serve DC will engage government employees by placing OWC donation boxes at 15 District government offices and properties from November 5th through December 12th. Coats collected will benefit the Coalition for the Homeless, a DC-based nonprofit that works to help homeless, at-risk individuals and families return to self-sufficiency and independent living. Last year, Serve DC collected more than 500 coats to benefit Coalition for the Homeless.
“More people than ever need help these days. I am proud of the thousands of coat drive organizers whose creativity and generosity of spirit have made helping people so easy and who are making a real difference in their own communities,” said Sherri Wood, President and National Coordinator for One Warm Coat.
In addition to the agency-wide coat drive, Serve DC will partner with Virgin Mobile to observe National Homeless Youth Awareness Month with a concert featuring Public Enemy to benefit Sasha Bruce Youthwork at the Lisner Auditorium, November 18th at 8 pm. Everyone who donates a coat will be eligible for a free VIP seat upgrade. The Washington Nationals will also host their own coat drive at Nationals Park Team Store, located at the Center Field Plaza Gates, which will serve as a drop-off point for the public.
For further information on One Warm Coat drop-off locations, please see the list of participating government agencies*.