rachelh@myweeklysentinel.com
CANTON — Children in the Canton Area School District in need of sneakers and socks are welcome to come to the sneaker giveaway at the Canton Area Elementary theaterette. The event will take place on Monday, Aug. 9, from 1-6 p.m.
The sneakers are free for any Canton Area School District student entering kindergarten through 12th grade. For the past four years, sneakers have been donated by the staff of CASD or by the community.
“This is our fifth year,” said Deb Fitzwater, former CAEA president. Fitzwater had the idea to start this project five years ago when walking into a BiLo.
“I met a nice family coming in as I was going out,” she said, “I said hi to them and mentioned something about school starting soon and he said ‘Yeah, I just don’t know how I am going to put clothes on them.’ He has five kids. Great family, great kids, they’re always appreciative of everything.”
Fitzwater noted that the school district already has a backpack program for students giving out food, but “there’s nothing for clothes.”
“I thought, even if you take your kids to Wal-Mart and get sneakers, it’s $15-20 a shoe, and if you have five children, that’s $100,” she said. “That’s a lot of money just for shoes and it’s kind of a basic need. If you can get up in the morning and put on a good pair of shoes to go through the day, it helps. If your feet are OK, that’s a good foundation (to your day).”
Fitzwater brought the idea to the other members of the Canton Area Education Association and the first event was created. Donations were gathered and set up in the theaterette as a “shoe shop” for students right before going back to school.
The program typically helps about 75-100 Canton students. Though last year, things had to change due to COVID, this year, things will be back to normal and the shoe shop will be open.
“It’s really cool to watch the kids go through the shoes and find a pair they love,” said Fitzwater.
“They’re so excited when they come to pick out their shoes. They can’t believe they are free,” said Roberts, “They’re smiling when they get to take them (the shoes) home with them.”
“We’ve had generous donations from the community,” said Fitzwater.
Now, Canton Elementary art teacher and current CAEA President Courtney Roberts is taking over the program to help students find comfortable footwear for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year.
“We won’t turn any child away and can help if they cannot find their size,” said Roberts. “High school students are welcome too.”
In conjunction with the event, the Canton Moose Lodge is also sponsoring a sock drive, in hopes that each student who picks out shoes will also have a new pair of socks with their sneakers.
Donations are welcomed for the upcoming school year. New or gently used sneakers in any size worn by a child in kindergarten through 12th grade can be dropped off at the elementary or high school offices Monday through Thursday, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Currently, the project is not in need of any girls sneakers in sizes 3-6 or boys size 5.
Socks can be dropped off at either the school building or the Moose Lodge lobby.
For the Aug. 9 event, students need to come to the theaterette in Canton Area Elementary School to find a pair of shoes that fits them. There will be sizing tools to help them.
For more information about the event or for questions, stop by one of the offices at Canton Area School District.