November 22, 2025 – The Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff proudly announces the success of its largest Operation Warm campaign to date, distributing nearly 1,000 brand-new winter coats to children and families in need across Lake County, Illinois. This year’s effort was made possible through partnerships with Waukegan Family and Community Engagement, Boys and Girls Club of Lake County, Cool Ministries, Fill a Heart 4 Kids, North Chicago Community Partners (NCCP), and Service and Learning Together (SaLT). Rotarians led a dedicated team of volunteers to raise funds and coordinate distribution, ensuring that children receive warm, high-quality coats just in time for winter.
“Cool Ministries was so thrilled to be a part of Operation Warm Winter Coats again this year,” said Mindy Lindholm, Executive Director of Cool Ministries. “Each of the children in our housing program received beautiful brand-new coats and many of their parents did too. We handed out coats to our neighbors in need visiting the pantry as well. To see the gratitude on people’s faces when they are gifted a new winter coat not only warms their bodies, but it warms my heart as well.”
Jessica Castrejon, Director of Community School Initiatives at NCCP, added: “The Operation Warm Coat Program has made a profound and lasting difference in the lives of students and families in North Chicago School District 187. Since the start of the school year, nearly 100 students have requested coats, and thanks to the generosity of this program, every single request has been fulfilled. Families have expressed heartfelt gratitude, sharing that receiving a warm coat for their child allows them to redirect their resources toward other essential needs such as food and housing.”
This year’s campaign was fueled by generous contributions from Rotary members and grants from the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Rotary Foundation, enabling a significant expansion in scope and reach. Since its founding in 1959, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff has given over $1 million to improve lives through humanitarian aid, educational opportunities, and health initiatives. Over the past 16 years working with Operation Warm, the Club has distributed approximately 10,000 winter coats. And they are one of many Rotary Clubs participating. Other Clubs involved in Operation Warm and other coat drives include the Rotary Clubs of Arlington Heights, Barrington, Batavia, Bloomingdale-Roselle, Carol Stream, Chicagoland Lithuanians, Huntley, Long Grove/Kildeer/Hawthorn Woods, Wheaton, and Wilmette.
Operation Warm, a national nonprofit, supplies brand-new, high-quality coats for children in need, helping them feel valued and confident while staying warm through the winter months. More information can be found at operationwarm.org.
The Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff continues to live its motto, “Service to Our Community and Our World,” through initiatives like Operation Warm. This year’s fundraising also supports youth leadership training, disease prevention, food security, and housing. To learn more, email info@lflbrotary.org
About Rotary International
Rotary International is one of the world’s largest service organization, with 1.2 million business and community leaders in over 45,000 clubs across more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members unite to provide humanitarian service and build goodwill and peace worldwide, tackling challenges such as illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, lack of clean water, and environmental concerns.