GLEN MILLS, PA — Operation Warm, a national nonprofit focused on providing new coats and shoes to children in need, released survey results showing that rising household costs are forcing families to deprioritize basic winter essentials, including properly fitting warm coats for their children.
The nationwide survey, conducted in late August, found that 73% of parents with annual household incomes under $65,000 worry about financial stability as back-to-school expenses strain already tight budgets. After covering essentials like food and household bills, the same percentage reported little money left for school-related needs.
More than half of these families (57%) admitted they had to deprioritize warm coats due to limited funds, with the challenge particularly acute in colder regions. Sixty-five percent of parents in the Northeast and 63% in the West reported cutting back on winter wear. Alarmingly, 36% of parents said they kept their child home from school on cold days because they could not afford a suitable coat.
“No child should have to miss school or sit at home in the cold because their family can’t afford a coat,” said Brenda Lee, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Operation Warm. “Our program is more than a coat—it’s about access: access to education, to confidence, and to the opportunities that come with being present and ready to learn.”
The findings underscore the broader financial pressures facing low- to moderate-income families as inflation, housing, and education costs continue to rise. Operation Warm said it will continue its efforts to provide coats and shoes nationwide, highlighting the connection between access to essentials and children’s educational and social development.
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