New Shoes Help Local Kids Step into Joy, Confidence, and Dignity
Sasha Bush
The Ashland Beacon
In life, it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and get to where we unknowingly take things for granted. It is often the little things that we typically don’t pay much attention such as the clothes on our backs, water in our baths, and the shoes on our feet. These are all things we know will be there because we are accustomed to having them in our day to day lives. What if you couldn’t depend on those things being there for you when you wake up? Imagine if you didn’t have fresh water to drink or bathe, proper clothing to keep you warm in the cold winter season, or have a pair of shoes that fit to shield your feet from the harsh elements.
Sadly, many children not having these necessities is a reality that they are forced to face every waking moment of their lives. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. One local group has stepped up and become part of a United States wide initiative to ensure no child will go without proper shoes that fit. Shoes That Fit is a national, award winning nonprofit that gives children in need new athletic shoes. Originating from Claremont California, Shoes That Fit aim to provide new shoes to all children in need so they can attend school in comfort and dignity. This humble organization operates exclusively on private donations with absolutely no government funding. Today, Shoes That Fit spans across 40 states and has local chapters in over 1900 schools.
To most of us, we daily pick up and put on a pair of shoes. We don’t really give it a second thought. We simply head to the mall and pick up a pair or even two when we are in need of a new pair of shoes to go with that new outfit, but not everyone has that luxury. For a child in need, a new pair of shoes can be a life changing event for them.
Shoes That Fit has a mission to tackle one of the most visible signs of poverty in America, which is lack of proper footwear. By providing children with new athletic shoes, they can not only attend school with dignity and joy but are also more prepared to learn, play, and thrive.
“Without proper shoes that fit, kids aren’t able to enjoy the typical experiences of childhood. New shoes do more than you can imagine! Proper shoes empower children to run free at recess, participate in sports, engage with peers’ shame-free, get a boost of confidence, concentrate in class, and experience less stress. Shoes can do so much for kids. It’s a simple solution that changes everything! No one likes to be left out, mocked, or in pain. Kids who can’t afford proper athletic shoes face that every day at school, leading to lifelong challenges,” stated Shoes That Fit.
Sherry Archey is a local to the area who is over the Greenup, Raceland, and Russell chapter for Shoes That Fit and whose primary role is to contact the local schools and find out exactly who is in need and what it is that they need.
Archey shared, “With the economy the way it is today, these kids can’t help the cards that they have been dealt. Many go without proper shoes that fit or wear shoes that are literally falling apart. Being able to provide shoes to these kids is a just small way that we can bring a smile to faces of these children’s and make their day to day lives a little bit easier.”
Archey believes that having this local chapter is vital to our community because it not only solves an immediate need for our children, but it helps to give hope to underprivileged kids from all around.
With back to school quickly approaching, Shoes That Fit Chapters from all around are actively reaching out to schools across the United States. What can you do to help? If you are interested in making a donation to Shoes That Fit, you can contact Frances Hicks at 606.836.4185 or Sherry Archey at 606.473.9974. You can also mail donations to 1110 E. Collins Street, Flatwoods, Ky, 41139.
Together we can make a difference to a child in need. We can stop bullying by making sure that no child is wearing shoes that are too old, worn, stinky, or too small. Just last year, this local Shoes That Fit chapter was able to place 400 pairs of shoes on the feet of children all over Greenup County, Russell, and Raceland. That’s 400 children who don’t have to worry about having a decent pair of shoes on their feet or be bullied for what they have on their feet. That’s 400 children who have one less thing to be stressed about during an already stressful school day. With your help and generous donations, we can do so much more! Don’t hesitate… DONATE... and together we can double that number and reach even more children in need.