380 Chicago students receive free shoes to start the school year off right
Hundreds of students on the South Side of Chicago have started this school year on the right foot!
CHICAGO – Hundreds of Chicago students have received help to start the school year off on the right foot.
Every kid from Randolph Elementary to Auburn Gresham now wears all-new sneakers. As any parent knows, these are not cheap.
“Dear! Especially the Nikes!” exclaimed Keviyona Ray, Principal of Randolph Elementary School.
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But the students didn’t pay a penny. Nordstrom and the non-profit organization Shoes That Fit provided free Nike shoes to 380 children at this southern school.
“What we’re seeing today are kids dancing, jumping, running and having fun buying a new pair of shoes, and it’s heart-warming,” said Nordstrom senior vice president Carl Jenkins. Rack./
On the surface, this event is about new shoes, but Principal says it means a lot more.
“It’s not just about academics. It’s also about the social and emotional part. Because if I feel good and I look good, then I’m going to do well,” said Principal Ray.
Several kids took their new shoes for a try, as they all moved on equal footing. Worry no more about who has the coolest kicks.
“I think it’s great that everyone is getting a new school pair because everyone needs them,” said Grade 8 student Jaidyn Harden.
Nordstrom and Shoes that Fit plan to donate 40,000 pairs of shoes across the country this year, saying the step can boost students’ academic achievement and self-esteem. It also takes away one of the biggest back-to-school expenses for families.
“They don’t have to worry about it. They know their child goes to school and then goes to extracurricular activities. They can participate in sports in a way that makes them feel confident. It gives them the opportunity to thrive outside the home. For kids, it’s all about joy,” said Paul Roach, Development Director of Shoes that Fit.
And this joy raged at this gift of shoes.
You can donate to the effort by visiting shoesthatfit.org or when you check out Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack.
