The Warm The Children program provides new basic warm winter clothing and footwear to children in need in the Middletown and surround communities since 2008. Each child is allotted up to $90*. If under age 4 they will receive an allotment of up to $70*. During the 2025-2026 season Warm the Children spent approximately $43,000 to provided new winter clothing and footwear to 530 kids in 298 families.
All donation monies and grants received for Warm The Children are used to purchase new clothing. No donation is too small or too large. There is no payroll; the program is all volunteer, and any incidental costs are paid for by the Middletown Kiwanis Club.
The families are referred to us by various sources including public elementary & middle schools, Middletown Adult Education’s Even Start, as well as some social service agencies including Haddam Social Services, Cromwell Human Services, and Middlesex Hospital’s Family Advocacy programs.
Based upon funding availability, Warm The Children establishes the number of children to be served during the upcoming winter season. Each agency/school is then given an allotment of referrals they can make for the season.
Once the school/agency teams have identified the children of families with the greatest need, information regarding Warm The Children is sent home to the parent/guardian. If they consent to participate in the program, the school/agency contact provides Warm The Children with the parent/guardian contact information and the name(s) and age(s) of the child(children) to be served.
In 2022 Warm the Children continued its partnership with JC Penny to provide affordable quality clothing & footwear to those we serve. Through this partnership families are able to shop on the JC Penny website through a special account and purchase order with the family's allocated funds and are able to utilize any current specials or coupons available through the site. Orders are then approved by the Warm the Children Program Coordinator and shipped directly to the family.
*Note the dollar amounts per child are reviewed yearly for any adjustments deemed necessary.
