WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign

03/16/2026

WIBH Radio Announces 5th Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign Underway (Effort to Benefit Southern Illinois Kids)

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 station is planning for this effort again in 2026.

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.

The Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign’s goal for 2026 is 300 pairs of shoes. In the first four years of this Campaign, over 1000 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, Rural Health, Inc., and Southern Seven Head Start 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% of Southern Illinois children live in poverty and shoes that fit well are an essential item every day. “We are fortunate to live in a community that cares about the needs of others,” said Moury Bass, co-owner of WIBH. “That’s why we are using the voice of WIBH radio to let our listeners know that there are children in Southern Illinois who need new shoes.”

Sponsorship is just $25 for one pair of shoes and two pairs of socks, 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 South Main Street, Anna, IL 62906 or given online at www.operationwarm.org/wibh. Deadline to donate is May 22, 2026.

Shipping Saint in Anna will donate the shipping of the shoes to allow 100% 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, while T&I Office Equipment in Anna is donating the printing of flyers used in outreach. Businesses and organizations requesting flyers should contact Moury at the radio station for delivery or pickup.

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 618-833-9424, Shawnna Rhine at Rural Health, Inc. at 618-833-4471, ext. 1036, or visit the WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign on Facebook. To learn more about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.

08/19/2025

Many thanks to all our donors and supporters!! Shoes purchased through this year’s WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope have arrived and are ready for pick-up. Over $3,000 was raised to purchase 108 pairs of shoes. The annual Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign is a partnership between the nonprofit organization Operation Warm and WIBH Radio, and are distributed through Arrowleaf, the Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network (CMMHRN), Rural Health, Inc., and Southern 7 Head Start (S7HS). Shoes are available for children living in Southern Illinois affected by abuse, neglect, disaster, and family. Pictured Top Row: Josh Williams, Shipping Saint; Elaina Spalt and Tiffany Vicente, CMMHRN with Moury Bass, WIBH; Audra Nigro and Emily Middleton, Arrowleaf, with Bass; Bottom Row: Melissa Anglin-Brooker, Julia Veach, Tina Jordan, and Shawnna Rhine, S7HS; and Amanda Harris and Chase Hileman, Rural Health, Inc., with Bass.

03/24/2025

03/24/2025

(3/24/25) – WIBH Radio Announces 4th Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign Underway (Effort to Benefit Southern Illinois Kids)

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 station is planning for this effort again in 2025.

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.

The Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign’s goal for 2025 is 350 pairs of shoes. In the first three years of this Campaign, over 1000 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, Rural Health, Inc., and Southern 7 Head Start 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% of Southern Illinois children live in poverty and shoes that fit well are an essential item every day. “We are fortunate to live in a community that cares about the needs of others,” said Moury Bass, co-owner of WIBH. “That’s why we are using the voice of WIBH radio to let our listeners know that there are children in Southern Illinois who need new shoes.”

Sponsorship of a pair of shoes is just $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 South Main Street, Anna, IL 62906 or given online at www.operationwarm.org/wibh. Deadline to donate is May 23, 2025.

Shipping Saint in Anna will donate the shipping of the shoes to allow 100% 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, while T&I Office Equipment in Anna is donating the printing of flyers used in outreach. Businesses and organizations requesting flyers should contact Moury at the radio station for delivery or pickup.

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 618-833-9424, Shawnna Rhine at Southern 7 Head Start at 618-634-2297, ex 971161, or visit the WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign on Facebook. To learn more about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.

07/16/2024

The 3rd Annual WIBH Warm Soles, New Hope Campaign came to a close in May raising enough to purchase 216 pairs of shoes for Southern Illinois kids in need. The shoes were delivered to their distribution sites in June and are available for pick-up while supplies last. Many thanks to this year's campaign partners!! Top photo: Daniel Nance and Gage Khurana of Duckworks Lawncare, Moury Bass Co-Owner of WIBH Radio, and Aydan Sanders of Postal Pal. Middle photos L-R: Shawnna Rhine of Southern 7 Head Start, Abi Cowser-Barnett and Tiffany Vincent of the Children's Medical and Mental Health Resource Network, with Bass. Bottom photos: Moury Bass, Tyrell Banks, Marge Penrod, Ashley Osborne, Darrell Stamper, Wendy Armstrong, Tor Neal, Trina Martin, Samantha Carver, and Debby Brown of Arrowleaf.

07/13/2023

The free shoes from this year's campaign are ready for pick-up. Call Arrowleaf in Vienna, the Children's Medical & Mental Health Resource in Anna, or Southern 7 Head Start for details. Many thanks to everyone who supported this year's effort and helped us raise enough donations to purchase 288 pairs of shoes for Southern Illinois kids in need. Special thanks to Postal Pal for covering the shipping which allowed 100% of all donations to be used just to purchase the shoes. Sizes 7 toddler to 5 kids are available while supplies last.

03/02/2022

Aren't these cute! With your $15 donation you can buy a pair of shoes for a child in Southern Illinois. Just imagine them running, jumping, climbing and bringing smiles to a child in need.