Welcome Baby’s 12th Annual Coat Drive

Love is more than words.  It is action, generosity, and kindness in motion. This Valentine’s Day, we celebrate the incredible love our community has shown through Welcome Baby’s 12th Annual Coat Drive and Distribution.

Thanks to your generosity, we have collected 1,441 coats so far and distributed 1,272 to Durham families, wrapping children and their caregivers in warmth and care during the coldest months of the year. Coats are distributed from October through February during WB’s weekly Giving Closet, where we serve an average of 120-130 children and 70+ Families each week. Your kindness is a tangible reminder that love isn’t just spoken, it’s felt in every gift given, every coat donated, and every child who walks away wrapped in warmth.

A Community of Love in Action

This year, we saw a heartwarming 8.5% increase in coat donations made directly to Welcome Baby, during our general donation hours.

We are deeply grateful for our longtime partners, who continue to share their love year after year:
❤️ Durham County Libraries, which first established public drop-off sites and remain steadfast supporters.
❤️ Primrose School of Chapel Hill, whose generous families kick off our coat collection each October.
❤️ Holy Infant Catholic Church, whose holiday outreach ministry regularly gathers over 100 coats.
❤️ Secret Santa, who never fails to bring joy with brand-new coats, hats, gloves, and pajamas.
❤️ Durham County Sheriff’s Department, which surprised us this year with boxes of new coats, reminding us that love sometimes comes in unexpected ways.

• DerNach Bar
• Candle Science
• White Rock Child Development Center
• Museum of Life and Science
• Porch Durham
• George and Harry neighborhood collection

This year, we were blessed to welcome new partners who extended their hearts and hands to support Durham families:
💖 Once Upon a Child
💖 Little Gym of Durham
💖 Bright Horizons Child Care Centers (Biogen RTP Campus & United Therapeutics RTP Campus)
💖 Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #11171
💖 Anti-Grammateus Beta Pi Sigma Durham Alumnae Chapter

Love That Warms from the Inside Out

On this Valentine’s Day, the Staff at Welcome Baby want to say thank you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for giving. Thank you for your love. Thank you for making what we do possible. Your generosity is a testament to the power of the community and the warmth that love can bring—even on the coldest days.

Together, we are wrapping Durham children in love—one coat at a time. ❤️