Operation Warm Guest Blog

By Rachel Kesselman, FedEx

I’ve had the pleasure of working for FedEx for over 13 years.  In my time here, I’ve served in marketing and communications roles across multiple channels of our business but, admittedly, my experience in Global Citizenship and Corporate Social Responsibility has afforded me a different kind of success. 

FedEx has teamed up with Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that manufactures brand-new coats for kids in need, since 2008.  Together, we have shipped more than 800,000 coats to kids in need across the U.S. and Canada.  Over the last few years, I got to see first-hand across the US & Canada how the gift of a warm winter coat makes an impact beyond just physical warmth. This is what Operation Warm refers to as #morethanacoat.  Along with hundreds of my FedEx colleagues, I had the opportunity to hand deliver coats to 18 communities.  That experience – the camaraderie, the smiles, and even the happy tears is one I will never forget.

2020 has been a year full of challenges and unknowns but I’m proud to say that it’s also been a year of determined spirit.  Our commitment to supporting our communities remains steadfast.   This summer FedEx volunteers gifted their time and talents to skills-based projects to help nonprofits like Operation Warm stretch their budgets tightened by COVID and, starting this month, FedEx will direct ship coats to kids in need in 24 North American communities.  The Operation Warm coat celebrations will look different this year but we’re getting creative so we can stay connected even when we need to stay apart.  This year’s events will include truck parades, purple totes full of much needed items and STEM educational packets curated by the Smithsonian.  It’s this kind of commitment to human connection that makes me love what I do. 

My role working with nonprofits like Operation Warm is more than just ‘my job,’ it’s a commitment to helping repair the world.  To me #morethanacoat means finding a way to keep going even when you’re faced with a roadblock and letting kids know that we care.  

Blog originally published on the Operation Warm website.