COLUMBIA — A nonprofit donated 400 pairs of free shoes to Columbia students in need Tuesday.
Columbia Public Schools, in collaboration with the nonprofit Shoes from the Heart, began delivering boxes of socks and tennis shoes to schools Tuesday.
The donation, sponsored by a grant from the Allen P. and Josephine B. Green Foundation, reached eight schools across Columbia Tuesday: West Middle School, Oakland Middle School, Parkade Elementary, Alpha Heart Lewis Elementary, Elliot Battle Elementary, West Boulevard Elementary, Rock Bridge Elementary and Hickman High School.
“We’re a small nonprofit, but we want to do big things,” Meg Bonuchi, office manager for Shoes from the Heart, said.
Program organizers said the boxes aim to make new shoes accessible to students in need, hoping to lessen the stigma around damaged shoes. To do this, Bonuchi said the organization makes sure no two pairs of shoes are the same.
“There’s nothing more fun than seeing those kids’ faces light up,” Bonuchi said. “If a certain color is going to make that much difference, that’s what we want.”
The district also established a shoe closet for students in those eight schools. CPS’ home-school communicators will facilitate the distribution and day-today management of the closets.
Bonuchi said though not immediately noticeable, there is a shoe problem in Columbia. It’s a problem the nonprofit is hoping to fix.
“We don’t want them singled out because of their shoes,” Bonuchi said. “If they need something different, if they are ready for the next shipment, by all means, we are going to provide those shoes.”
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Superintendent Brian Yearwood said Tuesday is a day to celebrate.
“This is an important part of getting our scholars to not have to worry about how they look and be more focused on academics,” Yearwood said. “This donation, 400 shoes, will go a very long way.”
Yearwood said he’s excited to see the rollout of the shoe packages.
“I know for me I would want one of every color,” Yearwood said.
Yearwood said he wished the program existed back when he was in school. He said he hopes the donation will bring some comfort to Columbia’s students in need.
“There were times when I would have to go to school in shoes with holes in them. I was teased, made fun of, and so on. It was not a very comfortable feeling,” Yearwood said. “I don’t want that for any scholar. We want for when a scholar is seen, they need to be seen for who they are on the inside not what they have on the outside.”
Both Yearwood and Bonuchi said they wish to continue to provide shoes for children in need in years to come.
“The strength of the school district lies in the support of the community,” Yearwood said. “This makes us stronger and better as a school district, a school system- Columbia Public Schools.”
To sponsor a closet or to donate, visit the nonprofit’s website.