Comfy Shoes For Little Feet
Donation protected
After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders, I began working as a Speech Therapist at Interlachen Elementary School, in Interlachen Florida. Interlachen is a rural town about 40 minutes away from the University. According to GreatSchools.org, 84% of the students at Interlachen Elementary come from low income families.
One day, then Principal, Mary Beth Hedstrom, arranged for the teachers to hop on a bus and ride the kids’ bus route. I believe she wanted us to develop better understanding and compassion for our students.
About halfway through the ride, we passed a vacant lot with a broken-down yellow school bus in it - one of my students stood on the step of the open school bus door, waving at us with a huge smile on his face. He looked so happy to see his teachers! He’d mentioned before, that he slept on the floor with his brothers and sisters (I seem to remember there were six of them); but, I never imagined he didn’t have a house.
On several occasions, kids came to therapy complaining about their feet. Of course, I always took-a-look. I found kids with holes in the soles of their shoes (socks and feet soaked) - they might as well have been barefoot. On one occasion, I looked inside a child’s shoe to find it stuffed with paper towels. When I asked why it was stuffed, he said, “They won’t stay on without the tissue.” He was wearing his brother’s hand-me-down shoes which were several sizes too big; his toes were all bent and crunched up inside with the paper towel cushioning.
Our Speech Assistant once complimented a Pre-K student’s shoes and asked if they were new to which he replied, “Heck no! The government took all my parents’ money! I can’t have new shoes!” As funny as it was for that statement to come out of a four-year-old’s mouth, it broke my heart.
One day I walked into the office and noticed some shoeboxes sitting on a bench - someone had donated shoes and a few children were excitedly peeking in each box. It was obviously a huge deal to get new shoes.
Ever since, I’ve dreamt that one day I’d have the money to purchase shoes for all the Interlachen kids who need them. I haven’t reached the point in my life where I’m financially able to do this, so I decided instead, I’d organize a campaign to raise money to purchase shoes for the children.
Additionally, with the recent emergencies related to the lava flow, which consumed over 700 houses on the Big Island of Hawaii (my home state and island), I thought I’d organize a joint campaign for the Puna district children who not only lost their shoes to lava, but also life as they knew it. According to GreatSchools.org, approximately 89% of the students in Pahoa come from low income families.
My goal is to raise enough money to purchase at least 200 pairs of shoes which I will divide evenly between Interlachen Elementary School and Elementary schools in Puna, Hawaii.
I would be ever so grateful for any donation you could provide. And, if you would be so kind as to share this campaign with others, it would be greatly appreciated. If we all pitch in, even just a little, we can make a huge difference.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank You and Mahalo - a million times over! Your contribution is about to make 100’s of tiny feet, comfy, warm and best of all HAPPY!
One day, then Principal, Mary Beth Hedstrom, arranged for the teachers to hop on a bus and ride the kids’ bus route. I believe she wanted us to develop better understanding and compassion for our students.
About halfway through the ride, we passed a vacant lot with a broken-down yellow school bus in it - one of my students stood on the step of the open school bus door, waving at us with a huge smile on his face. He looked so happy to see his teachers! He’d mentioned before, that he slept on the floor with his brothers and sisters (I seem to remember there were six of them); but, I never imagined he didn’t have a house.
On several occasions, kids came to therapy complaining about their feet. Of course, I always took-a-look. I found kids with holes in the soles of their shoes (socks and feet soaked) - they might as well have been barefoot. On one occasion, I looked inside a child’s shoe to find it stuffed with paper towels. When I asked why it was stuffed, he said, “They won’t stay on without the tissue.” He was wearing his brother’s hand-me-down shoes which were several sizes too big; his toes were all bent and crunched up inside with the paper towel cushioning.
Our Speech Assistant once complimented a Pre-K student’s shoes and asked if they were new to which he replied, “Heck no! The government took all my parents’ money! I can’t have new shoes!” As funny as it was for that statement to come out of a four-year-old’s mouth, it broke my heart.
One day I walked into the office and noticed some shoeboxes sitting on a bench - someone had donated shoes and a few children were excitedly peeking in each box. It was obviously a huge deal to get new shoes.
Ever since, I’ve dreamt that one day I’d have the money to purchase shoes for all the Interlachen kids who need them. I haven’t reached the point in my life where I’m financially able to do this, so I decided instead, I’d organize a campaign to raise money to purchase shoes for the children.
Additionally, with the recent emergencies related to the lava flow, which consumed over 700 houses on the Big Island of Hawaii (my home state and island), I thought I’d organize a joint campaign for the Puna district children who not only lost their shoes to lava, but also life as they knew it. According to GreatSchools.org, approximately 89% of the students in Pahoa come from low income families.
My goal is to raise enough money to purchase at least 200 pairs of shoes which I will divide evenly between Interlachen Elementary School and Elementary schools in Puna, Hawaii.
I would be ever so grateful for any donation you could provide. And, if you would be so kind as to share this campaign with others, it would be greatly appreciated. If we all pitch in, even just a little, we can make a huge difference.
From the bottom of my heart, Thank You and Mahalo - a million times over! Your contribution is about to make 100’s of tiny feet, comfy, warm and best of all HAPPY!
Organizer
Kealohanui Browning
Organizer
Hilo, HI