43
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.An Austintown Elementary School student tried out his new shoes he received from Soles of Luv on Nov. 13.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the Austintown Elementary School students tried on his new shoes from Soles of Luv on Nov. 16.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.Students from Austintown Intermediate School tried on the new shoes they got from Soles of Luv on Nov. 16.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.One of the Soles of Luv volunteers helped one of the Austintown Elementary School students tie his shoes that he got from Soles of Luv on Nov. 16.
Photo
Neighbors | Alexis Bartolomucci.An Austintown Elementary School student tried on a new pair of shoes she received from Soles of Luv on Nov. 16.
By ALEXIS BARTOLOMUCCI
Students from Austintown Elementary School got a surprise visit from Soles of Luv and received a pair of shoes, some socks and a colorful drawstring backpack on Nov. 16.
Twelve students were selected by staff members at AES to received a backpack of new footwear. The program is completely confidential and only Soles of Luv, the Austintown staff and the children’s families know the children were receiving shoes. Soles of Luv brought up to 25 students shoes, socks and a backpack each visit.
“We get people to sponsor a child. We provide them with the name, the age and the size and then they provide them with new shoes and a package of socks,” said Soles of Luv founder Cathy Crawford.
Soles of Luv is an all volunteer organizations and receives the shoes that are donated from sponsors around the community. Several schools are visited by Soles of Luv throughout the school year and select students will get new shoes.
Kelley Mills, AES counselor, is already working on a list of another 25 children who will be getting new shoes and socks.
“My favorite part is the smiles I see on the children’s faces when they receive their new shoes. Something to small to us as adults is such a huge impact on them,” said Mills.
Everything earned is given to the children. Most of the shoes that the children get are athletic shoes, but some children get more dress shoes or little boot shoes.
For more information about the Soles of Luv organization or on how to become a sponsor, visit www.solesofluv.com.