BATON ROUGE, La. - Children at schools across Louisiana have new shoes and coats for the upcoming winter months through a series of annual volunteer events with Operation Warm, a national nonprofit dedicated to providing warmth, confidence and hope for children in need.
Volunteers with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Louisiana Blue), Healthy Blue Louisiana, the Vermilion Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Acadiana and other local organizations gave out more than 1,700 coats at three schools in North Louisiana and more than 800 pairs of shoes at three schools in Southwest Louisiana during events this fall.
“A new pair of shoes is more than just footwear for our students—it represents confidence, comfort and dignity. At Eaton Park Elementary, receiving new shoes helps our children walk into their classrooms feeling proud, ready to learn and included,” said Amber Wyne, Eaton Park Elementary School principal. “This simple yet powerful gift removes barriers, boosts self-esteem and reminds our students that they are valued, supported and worthy of care. The partnership with Healthy Blue Louisiana, Louisiana Blue and Operation Warm was truly meaningful and incredibly impactful for our students and school community.”
Louisiana Blue shares footage of the 2025 Operation Warm shoe events in “Every Step Matters” (3:39).
“We’re proud to have partnered with Operation Warm for the past several years. Seeing the smiles on children’s faces and the pride they take in getting to pick out their new coats and shoes makes these events a favorite for our Team Blue volunteers,” said Michael Tipton, Louisiana Blue Foundation president and vice president, Community Relations. “Making sure they have sturdy, warm clothing for colder weather and that their families do not have the financial strain of buying new clothes for growing children is part of our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians.”
“Healthy Blue is proud to partner with Operation Warm to ensure Louisiana children feel confident, cared for and ready to thrive. By providing essentials like new shoes, we’re not only supporting families in need but also strengthening the health and well-being of communities across our state,” said Dr. Christy Valentine Theard, president and CEO of Healthy Blue Louisiana.
“We could not be prouder of the inspiring impact that Louisiana Blue and Operation Warm have made together across the state, and especially in Vermilion Parish,” said Missy Bienvenu Andrade, president and CEO of Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA). “CFA is also deeply grateful to the generous donors of our Vermilion affiliate who not only selected Operation Warm’s shoe event at Seventh Ward Elementary as a grant recipient, but who gladly showed up to put shoes on children’s feet in such a heartwarming way, at Louisiana Blue and Operation Warm’s thoughtful invitation.”
About Louisiana Blue
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, or Louisiana Blue, is committed to our mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianans. Founded in New Orleans in 1934, we are a tax-paying, not-for-profit health insurer with offices in every major region of Louisiana to serve our customers. We have been recognized for the past seven years as an honoree of The Civic 50, named by Points of Light as one of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States. J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Commercial Member Health Plan Satisfaction Study ranked us #1 in member satisfaction among commercial health plans in the East South Central Region. Louisiana Blue also was nationally recognized for exceptional customer service by USA Today's America's Best Customer Service 2025.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. We invite all Louisianans to visit our website at lablue.com or talk to us on social media @MyLouisianaBlue.
About Operation Warm
Operation Warm is a national nonprofit that manufactures brand-new, high-quality coats for children in need. We partner with compassionate individuals, community organizations, and corporations across North America to provide emotional warmth, confidence to socialize and succeed, and hope of a brighter future through the gift of a brand-new coat. Over the last 20 years, Operation Warm and our partners have used the coat as a bridge for families in need to access everything from flu shots to new books. To make a lasting impact on the lives of children, visit www.operationwarm.org.
About the Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA)
CFA is one of south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations benefiting our region, with a focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. Since its inception in 2000, CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $406 million and has made cumulative grants of more than $235 million. You can learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.
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