Students at Cravens and Foust Elementary along with Hager Preschool eagerly opened boxes of new shoes to start their school day on Monday. The donation was made possible through a partnership between Evansville’s Rally Point Events and Union County-based Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet.
In October, more than $30,000 was raised during the Professional Bull Riding Challenger Series event held at the Owensboro Sportscenter and hosted by Rally Point Events. Those funds were donated to Happy Feet.
According to their website, the Happy Feet program was developed “to help remove one of the stumbling blocks to optimum school performance. We hope to make students a ‘happy’ student thus becoming a better ‘learner.'”
The organization works to provide a new pair of shoes to every student identified in need by the Family Resource Youth Service Center Coordinators at each of the schools they work with, and the nonprofit is funded by donations and fundraisers.
The $30,000 donation was the largest they have ever received, according to Executive Secretary Janet Gill said.
“As soon as we had this money, I immediately started getting connected with Brian Benjamin [Coordinator of Full Service Community Schools for Owensboro Public Schools],” Gill said.
Benjamin works with the Family Resource and Youth Service Centers (FRYSC) at the schools and understands the needs and impacts the students have.
Benjamin said that shoes for students are one of the greatest needs during the school year. He said being able to take care of this need will be instrumental for students as it will help their attendance, academic performance, and self-esteem.
“If a student feels proud of the way they look, then they’re going to perform better. Everything is going to be better,” he said. “They’re going to be excited to come to school. It’ll make a huge impact on the culture of the school.”
Gill said they tried to find shoes that cost approximately $30, and students were able to pick out their shoes. Students were also gifted a free pair socks.
Happy Feet partners with Shoe Sensation, based in Tell City, to help families find quality shoes at affordable prices, Gill said.
Amanda Crowell, Marketing Coordinator for Shoe Sensation, said they loaded a truck with shoes for every size. Each student was sized before beginning to look for their perfect shoes.
Monday’s event marked the first time Happy Feet has stopped in Owensboro. They have done other Shoe Days throughout the tri-state area.
“Just being able to give back in the community where the money was raised is a blessing within itself,” Crowell said. “To watch these kids be so happy when they walk out it makes your heart feel good.”
