In Brazil, many low-income and at-risk people suffer on winter’s coldest days. An estimated 13 million Brazilians are unemployed, and as many as one in four people in the country are homeless or housing-insecure. Recent harsh winters in Southern Brazil have been especially difficult for those who lack the resources to purchase coats and warm clothes, and indigenous communities are often disproportionately impacted by the cold.

To help address basic needs of low-income and at-risk community members, in December 2019 DuPont employees collected winter clothing, blankets and other products and delivered them to people in need in communities through partnerships with local organizations. Hundreds of pieces were collected at four different DuPont sites and donated to NGOs or local authorities. And, a DuPont site leader personally delivered donations to an indigenous tribe in the remote state of Mato Grosso do Sul.

We held a similar event in Delaware in February of 2019. DuPont volunteers helped outfit 300 students with new jackets manufactured by Operation Warm, as well as exceptionally warm and trendy hats. The result was not only new outerwear for children, but also – as Operation Warm states – physical and emotional warmth, confidence to socialize and succeed, and hope of a brighter future.