BUTTE - In 2016, physical education teacher Cindy McCarthy noticed too many kids did not have the proper shoes for PE class.
“They can’t really run around with big, heavy snow boots on or shoes that are falling off their feet when they were running; they were in the brother’s or sister’s shoes,” said Melissa Johnson, assistant special education director.
That’s when the Shoes for the Sole program was started to give free athletic shoes to all needy students in Butte. This week, program organizers gave away 325 pairs of shoes to students. It’s rewarding to see how children react.
“Kids think they can run faster, jump higher, with a new pair of shoes. I think boosts self-esteem when a kid has a new pair of shoes on. They just feel good,” said Johnson.
The Shoes for the Sole program has every size, from toddler shoes to size 14. But what’s even bigger than a size 14 shoe is the generocity from the community that’s helped keep this program going.
“We have a woman who donates monthly, then with the businesses in Butte that have donated the large donations which helped put this first drive on, so it just goes on all year long and we haven’t run out of money yet,” said program organizer Chris Renz.
Organizers are considering adding snow boots to the program by this fall.
Montana Precision Products in Butte will host a fundraiser picnic for this program on Sep. 21 at Stodden Park between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
