Bringing Warmth Across Mountains: Winter Clothing Donation Project for Children in Qinghai of China
In July 2025, Speak With Arts Foundation partnered with Bittersweet Lemonade Association to launch a winter clothing donation campaign for students at a boarding school in Sangwa Township, Zeku County, Qinghai Province, China.
Located in a remote pastoral region on the Tibetan Plateau, the school serves children who face challenging living conditions and long, harsh winters. As temperatures begin to drop in early autumn, many students lack adequate winter clothing to protect them from the cold. After learning about their situation, our two organizations came together with a simple goal: to provide every child at the school with a warm winter jacket before the start of the new school year.
For Speak With Arts Foundation, this was our first large-scale fundraising initiative focused on material aid. The project presented several significant challenges. With more than 200 students in need, we estimated that approximately CAD $9,000 would be required to purchase high-quality winter jackets for every child. Beyond fundraising, we also needed to coordinate manufacturing, quality control, logistics, and distribution.
Our priority was not simply to purchase jackets, but to ensure that they would genuinely meet the students’ needs. Together with our partners, we carefully evaluated suppliers, comparing pricing, durability, warmth, and weather resistance. We wanted every child to receive a jacket that could withstand the cold conditions of the plateau while remaining comfortable for everyday use.
Transparency was equally important. To ensure accountability, we established dedicated donation channels and provided regular public updates on fundraising progress, production timelines, and shipping logistics. Supporters were able to follow the project from donation to delivery, helping build trust and confidence throughout the process.
The response from the community was extraordinary. Through the combined efforts of Speak With Arts Foundation, Bittersweet Lemonade Association, volunteers, and donors, the campaign reached its fundraising goal in just a few weeks. Ultimately, 216 winter jackets were produced, shipped, and delivered to the students before the beginning of the school year.
Among the most meaningful moments of the project were the handwritten thank-you notes sent by the children. Decorated with hearts, flowers, and drawings of sunshine, the messages expressed gratitude in the most sincere and heartfelt way. One student wrote, “Thank you for your kindness. Your warmth will stay with us through the winter.” Though simple, these words reminded us of the profound impact that small acts of generosity can have on a child’s life.
A winter jacket may seem like a simple gift. Yet for these students, it represents comfort, protection, and the knowledge that people thousands of kilometers away care about their well-being.
At Speak With Arts Foundation, we believe that meaningful change begins with empathy and action. This project demonstrated the power of collaboration and showed how a community united by compassion can bring warmth, hope, and opportunity to children who need it most.
By Gina Qin, Founder and Co-President of Speak With Arts Foundation