AFL-CIO community services to help kids feel ready ahead of the school year by distributing tennis shoes
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- With the FIFA World Cup just around the corner, AFL-CIO Community Services is making sure local kids and future soccer players have a good pair of shoes for the school year.
Through its Soles for Christ shoe distribution program, the organization will once again provide brand-new tennis shoes to students across northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.
Nicki Seckinger, executive director, said this is the 24th year they have been doing the program.
“It provides any school-aged child in Buchanan, Andrew, Doniphan, Clinton or DeKalb counties with tennis shoes for the school year,” she said.
What started as a way to help kids participate in gym class — where proper shoes are often required for grades — has grown into something much bigger.
Seckinger said the program not only helps students feel prepared and confident heading into a new school year, but also eases the financial burden on families.
“You would be surprised to see how excited it gets the kids for the school year because we do this about a week or two before school starts,” she added.
The program is open to all students from pre-K through 12th grade, whether they attend public school, private school or are homeschooled. Families only need to provide proof that the child is enrolled in school.
The three-day event will take place in August at the Scottish Rite Temple, where organizers typically serve around 1,200 children during distribution days, which run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“We have a lot of individuals in our community who are low income and a lot of households have children in them, so any way we can help those households save money, we want to be able to do that,” Seckinger said.
Seckinger said helping even one child or one family can create a ripple effect throughout the community, impacting far more people than many realize.
To keep the event running smoothly, the organization typically relies on about 165 volunteers to work the long distribution days and assist the hundreds of students who come through the program.
Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the agency directly or sign up using the volunteer link.
