Deadline approaching to support Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign

Earlier this year, WIBH Radio in Anna launched its third Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign to benefit children in Southern Illinois. Now, a deadline is approaching to make a donation to help support the campaign.

For more than a decade, WIBH Radio in Anna has raised awareness of child abuse and neglect in the Southern Illinois region. 

Since 2011, the local station has partnered with area child service agencies to raise funds to buy new coats through its New Coats, New Hope Campaign. 

In April 2022, as part Child Abuse Prevention Month, the station continued its mission with the then newly formed WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign to provide new shoes for children in need. 

The Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign’s goal for 2024 is 400 pairs of shoes. In the first two years of this campaign, more than 750 pairs of shoes were purchased.

As with the coat campaign, shoes will be distributed through the Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, CMMHRN, in Anna, Arrowleaf in Vienna and all Southern 7 Head Start locations to kids affected by abuse, neglect, disaster and family need. No paperwork or proof of income is required to receive a pair of shoes.

Nearly 20 percent of Southern Illinois children live in poverty and shoes that fit well are an essential item every day. 

Sponsorship of a pair of shoes is $15, but any monetary contribution is appreciated. 

Donations by check or money order must be made payable to Operation Warm. 

Donations can be sent to WIBH Radio, 330 S. Main St., Anna, Ill. 62906, or made online at www.operationwarm.org/wibh. The deadline to make a donation is May 17. 

Postal Pal in Anna will donate the shipping of the shoes to allow 100 percent of all donations to go directly to purchasing the shoes. 

Other area businesses are also partnering with WIBH to keep shoe costs low. 

Shawnee Mass Transit District and Duckworks Lawn Care will help deliver shoes to their distribution sites.

T&I Office Equipment in Anna donated the printing of flyers used in the outreach campaign.

Like the coats, the shoes, sizes Toddler 7 to Kids 6, will be purchased through the nonprofit organization Operation Warm, through its Warm Soles program. 

Since 2021, over 200,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed in the United States through Operation Warm. 

The addition of shoes gives WIBH and its campaign partners the opportunity to help children in need here at home.

Operation Warm is a national nonprofit that creates new, high-quality coats and shoes for children in need that partners with individuals and organizations across the United States to give a gift of warmth, confidence and hope to millions of children in need.

For more information about this year’s WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign, contact Moury Bass at WIBH at 833-9424 or Shawnna Rhine at Southern 7 Head Start at 618-634-2297, extension 9161, or visit the WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign on Facebook. To learn more about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.

The Gazette-Democrat

112 Lafayette St.
Anna, Illinois 62906
Office Number: (618) 833-2158
Email: news@annanews.com

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