GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Thanks to a generous donation from an Ashwaubenon business, every student at a Green Bay elementary school is receiving a free pair of athletic shoes.
Smiles were abundant on the faces of students and staff Thursday as all 340 kids at Howe Elementary Community School were fitted for their new footwear. U.S. Venture company Breakthrough teamed up with Shoes That Fit, a nationwide non-profit organization, to make the event possible.
“One in three children in the United States live in a low-income family, and shoes are one of the most expensive items for families to provide. When families have to choose between putting food on the table or buying new shoes for school, you can imagine that food wins every time,” Amy Fass, executive director of Shoes That Fit, said in a news release. “The simple gift of a pair of shoes can increase a child’s confidence, attendance, and performance at school, and we are so thankful to Breakthrough for taking the time to make such a positive impact on these kids.”
In addition to the customized pair of shoes given to each student, Breakthrough also donated 130 pairs to Howe Elementary’s shoe closet in an effort to continue assisting students who need shoes in the future.
Breakthrough President John Teggart said the goal is to help students at Howe attend school with dignity and walk into the classroom each day with joy, prepared to learn and play.
At Breakthrough, we are dedicated to giving back to our community, especially helping children in need. We are so proud to partner with Shoes That Fit to provide new athletic shoes to the students of Howe Elementary. We hope these shoes give the students the confidence they need to thrive in their education and have fun at school.
Principal Amy Kallioinen said the donations come at the perfect time, with the holidays approaching and the brand-new-shoe feel wearing off since the start of the school year. She added that although the students were a little bummed they didn’t get to immediately take home the shoes they tried on during their fittings, the kids are incredibly excited knowing their kicks will arrive soon.
“Because of partnerships like this, I feel like they reduce barriers for our kids and for our families. [Students] are able to come to school and really focus on learning and achieving and being successful, so we are just really grateful that we have such a generous community and partners that are willing to come in and do something important like this for our kids.”
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