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In 1992 Lois Pavlow, a concerned citizen of San Francisco,
had a coat she wished to donate to a person truly in need
of a warm coat for the winter. Pavlow did NOT want the person
to pay for the coat–she wanted it provided free. When
she could not find a way to make the donation, she founded
Operation: One Warm Coat. Since its inception, the program
has collected more than 75,000 coats in the San Francisco
area.
It is her dream
that One Warm Coat becomes a part of the American lifestyle.
When a coat is no longer needed, people will automatically
think of donating it to a One Warm Coat drive knowing that
men, women, and children in need will receive the gift of
a warm coat.
Girl Scouts of
San Jacinto Council and the national service project One Warm
Coat are partners in a Council-wide service project for Juliettes,
troops, and service units to collect clean, gently used coats
and jackets in all sizes. These coats can be donated to local
United Way agencies, schools, faith communities, police/fire
stations, or refugee groups who will distribute them free
of charge (not to be resold).
One Warm Coat
guidelines are available on the One Warm Coat Web site at
www@onewarmcoat.org.
 
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The first Council-wide
collection took place at Girl Scout Day at the Houston Rockets.
Over 2,000 Girl Scouts attended the game. Coats collected
at the event benefited the clients of Houston’s Star
of Hope mission.
Troops
can enhance the One Warm Coat collection by:
- Inviting
other local groups in this endeavor.
- Incorporating
a troop tour at the location when coats are donated.
- Learning
about other service opportunities available at the donation
location.
- Incorporating
this service project with your troop meeting, GirlScout
event, your faith community, or school activities.
Procedure:
- Check
out your closets for clean, gently used coats you no longer
need.
- Search
in YOUR community for groups who give (not re-sale) coats.
- Collect
the coats and donate them to your selected location(s).
- Complete
and turn in GSSJC Form F-269, Troop Service Project Report
Form.
- Complete
the One Warm Coat report form on-line to receive a certificate
for your troop’s participation. Visit Web site www@onewarmcoat.org.
- Order
(optional) patches on-line for $1.50 plus postage. One Warm
Coat patches are a product of the national program and are
not available at Council Shops.
This
service project may be counted towards the GSSJC Council Service
Project Program Patch, GSSJC Form F-834, or other appropriate
service projects listed in GSUSA awards.
For more
information contact Melinda Gaskill at 713-292-0232 or mgaskill@sjgs.org.
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