reporter: she s one of 800 students at this new york city public school taking home a winter jacket, thanks to operation warm. the coat is the first thing. it s the tangible thing. but what that really provides is warmth, physical warmth, the emotional warmth. reporter: in the past 23 years, the nonprofit has manufactured more than four million coats for children in need across the country, paid for by donations. it s the difference between going to school on a cold day or staying home. reporter: coat requests have tripled during the pandemic. kids, like kindergartener isabella, get to pick their coat color. oh, i love it! what s your favorite color? pink and purple. reporter: each costs under $25 to make, but the joy one brings is priceless. on a scale of one to 10, how excited are you to get a nice warm coat today? 100 out of 10. reporter: 100? nikki battiste, cbs news, new