Bundles for Blue Jackets

Illustration of a blue bag with white text on it on a white background with an outer blue ring with white text on it

In 1940, Natalie Wales Latham of New York City founded the Bundles for Britain in association with the British War Relief Society. Latham's charity organization provided knitted goods, such as socks, gloves, hats, sweaters, and scarves, to war ravaged parts of Britain. By 1941, they had expanded to 975 branches and were shipping not only clothing, but surgical instruments, medicines, cots, and blankets. Fundraising efforts included live radio broadcasts featuring popular stars like Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. In January 1942, after the decision to become an American organization, they officially became the Bundles for Blue Jackets, with their headquarters in Texas.