GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Christmas came early for more than 200 students at Fort Howard Elementary school in Green Bay on Thursday as they received a new pair of shoes.
The kids have been devoting their time in the community throughout the year and were rewarded for their efforts.
“The shoes are really great just to get them motivated and getting them excited to have something that’s all theirs, that they can wear and be proud of,” says Katie Barrientos, a school social worker. “I love that they can make these connections and get excited about it. They’re doing great things and getting something in return.”
The kids appreciated their works of kindness being noticed.
“It’s important to help other people because if you are generous people will be nice to you, and they will be your friend, and notice you in life, ” says 4th-grade student Fredrick Freeman.
A local business called Breakthrough Fuel partnered with the “Shoes that Fit” non-profit organization to make the gifts possible.
“There are always going to be kids in need and I’m a mom of three and can’t imagine what some of these kids might be,” says Kim Larson from Breakthrough Fuel. “So if there is something we can do, even something as small as a pair of shoes that came make a difference for them we want to do that.”
New shoes were provided for more than 100,000 students at 2,200 schools across the country last year by the “Shoes that Fit” Organization.
