Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Warfield.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started in 2018 with a dream to help to children who normally would not have coats during the winter. I would see children on bus stops waiting for a school bus without a warm coat or the child had on a jacket. I did my research online and by interviewing several school teachers and found out that there is a large number of children who come to school without a coat and sometimes without socks. I them proceeded to gather my family and friends and told them my idea and they wanted to help. My goal was to giveaway 100 gently worn coats but the 100 coats turned into 300 gently worn coats. Our first coat giveaway was in Cahokia Illinois at a now closes school, Jerome. We wanted them to have more than a coat so we provided popcorn, music, and face painting. I funded the entire event. The years to follow I learned how to complete grant forms and what organizations gave funding to nonprofit organizations and I applied year after year. All Nanna’s Kids stop accepting gently warm items in 2020 due to Covid but thanks to our partners such as Spectrum has who has given us a grant since 2019 and continue to do so. We have also received grants from Ameren MO, Costco, Target, First Community Credit Union, First Fund, Nordstrom and lots of other companies. In 2023 we partnered with Hanes socks and Bombas socks and began to give away socks along with hats and gloves. Tyson Food hosted a coat drive and collected 500 warm coats and hoodies for children. We not only provide warm coats to children infant to high school age children but hats, gloves and socks. These items keep them warm year after year. We have families that return every year and that is ok, children are a priority to All Nanna’s Kids Closet. We advertise on facebook, instagram and our website. We have a consistent team of 15 volunteers (which includes our Board of Directors) who always have great ideas for our events that is held in November each year. Since 2018 we have given away more than 9000 coats, thousands of socks, hats and gloves. During the winter months we also provide socks to nursing homes in Cahokia IL and St. Louis. We have provided our warm items to schools such as Lift for Life Elementary Schools and Loaves and Fishes Shelter for 4 years. Our reach also extends to youth shelters such as Gateway 180 and to any family with children. We also offer meet ups and drop offs to family who may be far or not have transportation. I have always said that children deserve a new warm coat because it gives them hope, puts a smile on their face and keeps them warm. When a child is warm at school they are more focused on school then being cold. Families need a hand up and not just a hand out. Children should feel valued, supported and warm not just physically but emotionally. when All Nanna’s Kids meet their basic need, we give them a better chance to thrive and grow into productive members of their communities.
In 2023 All Nanna’s Kids received the Pitching In Award from Cardinals Care for pitching into the community. I have received the Women of Achievement Award for our giving into the community and August 2026 I will be inducted into the Lincoln Sr. High School, East St. Louis, IL, Alumni Association for our giving to IL and MO areas. I am passionate about being the CEO of an organization that love children and want to see them progress in life. My giving back to communities in IL and MO has been heartwarming. I am a product of my mother who worked in a shelter as a cook, and cooking meals for the seniors at her church and serving in her community, something she loved doing, helping others.. WE continue to keep children warm a child at a time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been smooth. Each year funding is different. At times I did not know if we would be purchasing 500 coats or 100 coats but God always provided in ways through giving or inkind donations. During COVID it was very challenging, the funding was great but it was difficult to get the coats to the children. We adopted what the stores were doing, we met up with parents, keeping our distance, masked and gloved up. We dropped off coats in plastic bags at door steps and even mailed some warm items. We host a coat giveaway every year, and sometimes you never know if you will have enough volunteers. It takes at least 30 volunteers to make an event successful. It’s almost as if you don’t know until a month out when everything comes together.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am the founder and CEO of All Nanna’s Kids Closet located in St. Louis, MO. I have 3 adult children and I am the oldest of 4 girls. I live in St. Louis, MO and work at Charter Communications as Office Manager and Executive Assistant. I have been employed here for 20 years. I am a graduate of Lincoln Sr. High School, East St. Louis, and graduate of Hickey Business School. I have always wanted to be and administrative assistant and has done so most of my life. I have 8 grand children who call me Nanna (which is where my nonprofit name came from) I am a faithful member at my church, Power of Change Christian Church were I serve as the leader of the Intercessory Prayer Ministry and teacher, and will soon be consecrated as a Deacon. I was awarded the Women of Achievement Award in 2025 for the Spirit of Giving, I sat on the board of Esther Serving the Nation Nonprofit organization for 3 years. I am a published author of, Now You See Me, Hidden Until God’s Reveal Me that can be found on amazon and I have been a guest speaker on GT Ministry’s Created to Praise radio based in Virginia speaking about domestic violence. I am a domestic violence survivor. I believe that my passion for families come from being a single parent raising 3 children and know how it feels to not have warm coats or as a mother to sacrifice what you have for your children and even to work long hours to keep the lights on in the house. I serve communities because I didn’t have anyone to serve me and I know how it feels and I try and make sure thousands upon thousands of families and children feel differently.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My job offers paid classes so I have taken classes for business in order to be more inclusive on my job as office manager and managing a department of 80 people. I am engaged so I watch Jerome Glenn on youtube regarding marriage. I also am a part of a womens group that meet once a month to discuss and teach on self care, and various teachings. As an intercessor I read a lot of prayer books and follow pastors who pray on youtube.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allnannaskids.org
- Instagram: @allnannaskids
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaMarieTheAuthor
- LinkedIn: Anna Warfield
