Students at Memphis College Preparatory Elementary School didn’t have to wait for Christmas morning to find out about one gift they would receive. Thanks to Soles4Souls and the Tennessee Valley Authority about 250 students went home with a brand new pair of sneakers 23 days ahead of the holiday.
Soles4Souls, the Nashville-based global nonprofit that creates opportunity through shoes and clothing, partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority for a shoe distribution event for students at the school on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The Tennessee Valley Authority West Region provided a $25,000 grant to support 1,250 students receiving new shoes in Memphis and Shelby County during this school year. The grant supports Soles4Souls’ 4EveryKid program, which provides brand-new athletic shoes to students across the United States. While the program has in the past focused on children from families experiencing housing difficulties, all of the approximately 250 K-5th-graders at Memphis College Prep received sneakers.
Soles4Souls and TVA staff and volunteers measured the children’s feet and provided shoes to all students in attendance. “Data from 4EveryKid school partners shows that proper-fitting footwear for children allows them to attend school, participate in sports and stay active, which can lead to a brighter future,” said Jamie Ellis, Soles4Souls’ vice president of strategic communications.
Lauren Keys, of MCP, said the school wanted all students to receive shoes so none will be stigmatized based on life circumstances. “We didn’t want to single anyone out,” Keys said. “Children do so much better when they fit in with other children.”
Plus, she added, “It’s one less thing for parents to have to worry about this holiday season,” Keys said.
Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 112 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing in 139 countries.
