Operation Noel Telethon: Donate all day to help keep area children warm this winter

ABC-7 is hosting its annual Operation Noel telethon to provide thousands of Borderland children with a warm coat this winter.

The goal is to raise $375,000 to pay for 25,000 coats for children in El Paso and Dona Ana counties.

Many of the families have fallen on hard times and need some help this year to provide some of the most basic necessities.

Operation Noel is a non-profit organization, funds for Operation Noel are raised through the efforts of the HUB International, Mattress Firm, El Paso Times, and a KVIA News Channel 7.

Operation Noel is one of the only nonprofit charities in the area that allocate 100 percent of donations to the cause. The partners cover the administrative costs and all other work is done on a volunteer basis, so there is no overhead cost.

The main fundraising campaign is done throughout the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, but donations are accepted year-round.

The jackets are in El Paso and are being sorted for distribution in the coming days.

Each coat costs $15.

Call (915) 496-1797 to donate, volunteers are standing by in the ABC-7 phone bank, or online at kvia.com.

Volunteers will take calls until after ABC-7 at 10.