“Our mission is to provide a new pair of correctly fitted gym shoes and socks to every student in our area who desperately needs them,” Horlacher said.
She said the local 501(c)3 is unique in its goal of providing for every qualifying child in the area — an estimated 10,000 kids.
Since January 2011, the all-volunteer organization has given shoes and socks to 2,300 youngsters in almost every local school district.
Horlacher, who is a nurse, said the group networks with school nurses, counselors, teachers, social service agencies and individuals to locate needy children.
Measurements are taken and the necessary information is sent to a web page.
“We then purchase and deliver the shoes,” she explains. “We help each child try their shoes on to ensure a proper fit. If the shoe does not fit correctly, we replace it.”
The need is never-ending, she says, because elementary-age kids outgrow their shoes an average of three times each year, high school kids outgrow them up to two times a year.
“We were in a local elementary school this week and one little boy had a kitchen sponge stuffed into his shoe to make it fit,” Horlacher said.
“We gave him a beautiful pair of gym shoes and his teacher told us he came back into class skipping all the way down the hallway,” she says.
Readers of “Make a Difference” are being asked to help. New shoes and socks (only new) of any size can be dropped off at 326 Ridgewood Avenue, Oakwood, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but please call first — (937) 985-1273.
If you want to mail the items, send them to the same address, the zip is 45409.
Financial contributions can be sent to: Shoes 4 the Shoeless, P.O. Box 41655, Dayton, Ohio 45441.
More information is available at www.shoes4theshoeless.org. Horlacher says volunteers are always needed.
Know a nonprofit that needs help
If you know of a nonprofit organization that would like to publicize its wish list, contact Meredith Moss at MMoss@coxohio.com Send details and a daytime phone number.
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