For 167 students across the Allen County School District, Tuesday, March 31 did not end as it began. The kids went to school fitted with old beaten down, broken, well-worn and worn-out shoes. By the time the youngsters returned home, with them were a pair of shining and sparkling new shoes along with new socks. The gifts were presented to the students by the school district’s Family Resource and Youth Service Center (FRYSC), made possible through the generosity of the Scottsville Rotary Club and the support of Shoe Sensation from Glasgow.
“Rotary applied for a grant through the Billie Coots Hatcher Foundation for $8,500 and we invested it into the students across all the schools in Allen County by supplying new shoes,” explained Anna Taylor with the Scottsville Rotary Club. “It is a wonderful opportunity for Rotary to help in this community.”
With the funding, Family Resource and Youth Service Center officials identified students from the Allen County Primary Center, Allen County Intermediate Center, James E. Bazzell Middle School, Allen County-Scottsville High School, and Patriot Academy who would benefit from a new, comfortable, name-brand pair of shoes. FRYSC worked with Shoe Sensation to purchase the shoes and oversee the distribution.
Tuesday, March 31, FRYSC staff, Rotary volunteers, and Shoe Sensation representatives collaborated to complete the project. Students were transported by bus driver Mark Anthony to the Patriot Athletic Complex. First, Shoe Sensation staff used their Brannock Devices to determine correct shoe sizes for each child. Next, Rotary and FRYSC staff helped each child look over a wide assortment of name-brand shoes. Once the child made his or her choice and found the correct size, workers helped the students try on the shoes, just like would happen in a shoe store in a mall or outlet center. After a selection was made, each child was given new socks to complement their new shoes. Students could either wear their new shoes home or keep them packaged to a later time.
Assisting with the day was Angie Walker from Shoe Sensation. She noted that the program brought back memories of her own experience.
“For some of these kids, this could be their first pair of new shoes,” Walker said. “I see myself in those kids. I was one of those kids growing up. I got one pair of new shoes a year. I can relate. The small kids especially absolutely love it. Participating in this program is very rewarding.”
The new shoe giveaway program is typically a yearly event in the Allen County School District administered by FRYSC.