The new school year begins on Aug. 8 and one community group is making sure that at least 200 school kids will go to school with new shoes.
With the economy the way it is, it’s harder for parents to buy new shoes especially if they have more than one child, said co-founder Cricket McCloud.
Four years ago McCloud, Mindy Smith, Jennifer Richard, Columbia Christian Church Youth and Family Minister Adam Shepard, and family resource and youth center representatives got together and came up with the Kids Needs Kicks Ministry.
They wanted to do something similar to the angel tree program during Christmas. Church groups, businesses and individuals can donate a pair of new shoes. KNK will work with the youth service and family resource centers to match up a student with a pair of shoes.
“Kids feel better about themselves when they have a new pair of shoes,” McCloud said. “The kids are just tickled to death if they get something name brand. They just light up.”
Those looking to donate can either choose a shoe card with a shoe size and gender or make a donation on their own. The deadline to return shoes with the “Shoe Box” program will be July 24 or as near to that deadline as possible.
Shoes can be dropped off at Columbia Christian Church, First and Farmers National Bank on the square and at the Community Voice office.
For more information regarding the ministry or donations, Kids Need Kicks Ministry Committee Members may be contacted as follows: Cricket McCloud at 385-9633; Mindy Smith at 250-6060, Adam Shepard at 384-2612 or Paula Garrison at 384-9752.
