Anderson Students Receive Shoes

MC4Kids and Zion Word Church of Anderson distributed approximately 600 pairs of shoes to students at Anderson Elementary School on Oct. 13.

The event began with an assembly in the gym, where members of fitness group Crawl Walk Run presented first-year teacher Erica Factor with school supplies. Then students were told they were getting new shoes, which brought forth cheers. Students were dismissed to their classrooms, where volunteers brought bags of shoes and fitted each child.

"We are hooked up with an entity in Springfield that supplies us with the shoes. They wanted to go through a church. They didn't want to be mentioned," explained Dr. Randy Davis, pastor of Zion Word Church.

Andrea Blair is a member of the board of MC4Kids and a member of Zion Word Church. She said, "There's so many things that Zion Word Church has done for the community, and we're very thankful for them.

"Just to see the kids smiling and knowing they're going home with a new pair of shoes, it's a blessing for us. Helping a first year teacher, that's a blessing in itself."

Fourth-grade teacher Gena Thompson stood by while volunteers put shoes on her students.

"I think it's awesome," she said. "The kids are really excited. I've heard of the (program), but for it to come to this school is really exciting. The teachers have had to keep it a secret since we measured feet last year."

Fourth-grade teacher Tina Wilson said, "I think it's a wonderful project. It encompasses the community and hopefully it will show the kids that not only do we help children overseas, we help children in our own community. It takes all ages to be caring and contribute to society."

Anderson Elementary Principal Julie Holloway said, "We knew last year they were applying for our students to be recipients, so when Dr. Pearson confirmed delivery ... it's been hard to keep this a secret. It's an exciting day for the students."

Dr. Deborah Pearson of MC4Kids said, "This is one of the best pay-it-forwards you can ever have. It gives you a lot of joy."

Holloway added, "It's the smile that's on the student's face when you're able to give them a pair of shoes."

Pearson said one reason for doing this is so that children are not without shoes and do not have to worry about coming to school.

Holloway said last year she was on her way to check on a student when she saw another student outside playing. She asked him what he was doing and he told her he didn't have any shoes. Her husband went to a dollar store and bought the boy some shoes.

"You think it (going without shoes) doesn't happen," she said, "but it does."