Thursday, November 17, 2016
AUSTINTOWN
Twelve Austintown Elementary School students hopped, skipped, jumped and danced down the school hallways in new shoes Soles of Luv representatives brought to them – free of charge – Wednesday afternoon.
Soles of Luv, a nonprofit group, unites volunteers in its mission to provide socks and shoes to those in need in the Mahoning Valley.
Cathy Crawford, Soles of Luv co-founder, said Austintown Elementary got on her radar for help when school counselor Kelley Mills spotted a student wearing oversized shoes belonging to an older sibling.
Through sponsors, Soles of Luv is able to provide students in need with socks and shoes once a year through fifth grade.
“Some people make it a Christmas project, and some just like to kind of sponsor a child,” Crawford said.
Mills said the collaborative effort between herself, Soles of Luv volunteers, teachers and the building principal spreads happiness over such an unlikely gift from anonymous donors.
“It’s about the smiles I see on the children’s faces for their new shoes,” Mills said.
Heather Eusebio, Soles of Luv co-founder, said she enjoys not only seeing the smiles, but also seeing the smiles about such a practical gift.
“Something so small to us as adults is huge for these kids,” she said.
Soles of Luv also serves Williamson Elementary School and South Side Academy in Youngstown.
For Austintown, Mills said partnering with Soles of Luv is a blessing.
“We have so many students who benefit from this program,” she said.
For more information about Soles of Luv, visit www.solesofluv.com/home.html.