As Athens County students and parents begin to prepare for the upcoming school year, purchasing books, school supplies and new clothes can be quite costly. So Stephanie Harris, founder and head of Lace Up for Kids, came up with a helpful solution.
Lace Up for Kids originated due to the rising need for children's shoes in Athens County. The program takes lightly used sneakers or money donations in order to help fill this need. -
said Harris. We believe that kids should be able to start off the school year feeling confident in themselves and what could be a better way than to walk into school wearing a new pair of shoes?
Lace Up for Kids works with Power 105, Athens County Children's Services and local Wendy's restaurants and has been running for the past 10 years. Participating families must register with the Athens County Children's Service and fill out an application verifying that they are in need.
Fliers and drop-off bins were placed at the three local Wendy's restaurants for unneeded, gently-used shoes and money donations starting in early July. The promotions and drop-off bins were out for about four weeks, and more than 250 pairs of shoes were collected.
Local volunteers ' which included the Athens High School basketball team this year ' and Athens County Children's Services employees collect the shoes and buy new ones based on how many children need them and what sizes are listed on the application forms.
Kids from kindergarten through eighth grade lined up yesterday morning from 9 a.m. to noon to be fitted at The Plains Elementary School in The Plains for their new shoes. After students' feet were measured, volunteers brought the children to bins of shoes that were their sizes to pick out their new pair.
This program has been wildly successful Harris said. The kids have always been our main priority
and watching them leave excitedly with their new shoes is great.
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Kelsey Dodds
