A local business and local legend have joined forces on a fundraiser to support the Wheeling Soup Kitchen.
Wheeling Threads is helping to give back by highlighting Wheeling’s Charles “Moondog” Waldrum.
“There are four different designs of Charles Waldrum — aka Moondog. ” said Daniel Finsley, owner, Wheeling Threads. “It’s t-shirts, hoodies, prints, and stickers.”
And all proceeds will go to the Soup Kitchen of Greater Wheeling.
This is the company’s second time running a fundraiser with Moondog’s likeness for the nonprofit. The first was held in 2018 and raised more than $6,000.
“He is a local legend — a protector of sorts,” Finsley said. “He would patrol the streets all the time. You would see him randomly with all of his flags on his bike.”
Finsley hand draws the designs and turns them into digital artworks that will be printed onto the products.
“Daniel kind of captures the heart of the city with his art,” said Becky Shilling-Rodocker, executive director, Wheeling Soup Kitchen.
And his art will help keep community members fed through the soup kitchen.
They organization is now open 7 days a week, so its need has increased. Giving has been a little down, so funds like this are important.
“They are here,” Finsley said. “They’re here to feed and give direction and to help those in need.”
“Oh, it’s our survival,” Shilling-Rodocker said. “We don’t have government funding or anything like that. We rely 100 percent on donations from the community and fundraisers such as this.”
