Operation Noel

A Fund of

Operation Noel is a charitable fund of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, dedicated to providing warm winter coats to nonprofit organizations that serve children in need—toddlers through age 12—across the El Paso and Ciudad Juárez region.

Each year, thanks to the generosity of individual donors, community partners, and organizations, thousands of brand-new coats are purchased and distributed to ensure that no child is left out in the cold. In 2023, Operation Noel transitioned from a direct service nonprofit to a grantmaking fund under the Foundation. This transition allows the program to grow and continue its mission with stronger infrastructure, while still keeping its original spirit and community-driven heart.

Your tax-deductible contribution to the Operation Noel Fund helps sustain this legacy and directly supports the purchase of warm coats for the children who need them most.

Questions about grants or contributions? Contact Claudio Castanon at [email protected] or 915-218-2646.

The History of Operation Noel

The origins of Operation Noel go back to 1939, when Ruth Pooley, wife of the El Paso Herald-Post editor, was inspired by a local jeans manufacturer’s program that provided pants for boys in need. Wanting to support young girls as well, she created The Little Girls Dress Fund and invited readers to donate dresses or funds. With the donations, she bought brand-new dresses at the Popular Dry Goods Company and distributed them to girls across El Paso.

The program continued into the early 1980s, when a Herald-Post reporter took over and expanded the mission to include boys. It was renamed Operation Noel and began providing sweatsuits and jeans to thousands of children through a growing network of local agencies.

Soon, organizers realized a greater need—coats. Many of the children they served were facing cold winters without a proper jacket. In response, Operation Noel partnered with a local apparel company to produce warm, high-quality coats specifically for the children they served.

Over the decades, Operation Noel has worked with more than 65 local agencies and schools. Caseworkers and counselors identify the children most in need and compile distribution lists between August and November. Operation Noel has distributed more than 20,000 coats in just the past two years.

Now as a fund of the Paso del Norte Community Foundation, Operation Noel continues to bring warmth and hope to children each winter—just as it has for more than 84 years.