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Love in the Laces helping ease financial burden of back to school

Aug 17, 2017 | 5:05 AM

For many families, school supplies and brand new shoes mean skipping rent payments, utilities, or food.

Love in the Laces, in conjunction with Tools for School, is a program designed to help ease that burden.

The program is organized through a partnership between Crossroads Church and Women’s Outreach. The church does the collection and organization of the shoes, while Women’s Outreach facilitates the applications and appointment booking and distribution.

Director of local initiatives at Crossroads Church, Laurie Whitaker, said in the four years that Love in the Laces has run they’ve seen around 3500 pairs of shoes come through the program.

“It’s just a very practical way we can support families in our community who are experiencing the need to access Tools for School,” said Whitaker.

The idea came about after a meeting with Women’s Outreach where it was realized that families needing backpacks and school supplies often need shoes for their children as well.

“Most schools require a pair of indoor as well as outdoor shoes now and that’s a big expense for families,” said Whitaker.

Love in the Laces collects shoes throughout the month of August and began distribution on Monday the 14th.

Whitaker said that while Women’s Outreach is in charge of who comes through the program, the Crossroads Church congregation provides the shoes and runs the shoe room.

“People from our congregation take shifts at Women’s Outreach and kids come through and pick out shoes. There are no parents allowed in the room so it’s just the kids that get to pick the shoes. It’s a lot of fun.”

Shoes can be donated at Crossroads Church Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., or on Sundays during service times. Shoes can also be taken to Women’s Outreach.

People are encouraged to go shopping for the new shoe donations themselves, as Whitaker said it’s less about the money for the program than it is the experience.

“We would prefer that they make it an experience and that they go out and purchase the shoes themselves. This way they’re thinking about the fact that a little girl is going to wear those shoes, or they’re going to pick a pair for a high school boy.”

The need for junior high and high school age shoes is the highest, as Whitaker adds many people like to shop for the little shoes, but the big kids need them just as badly.

“Anybody who has children realizes the expense in sending kids back to school. Everyone can also relate to the excitement of getting new shoes.”

She added that part of the joy of giving the shoes is knowing that they are not only a necessity, but that the children enjoy them.

“When we get the shoes we can also write a note that says ‘I hope you have a great year at school, I’ll be thinking about you and it’s going to be an awesome year’ so they know that somebody cared enough to buy these shoes and write a little note,” said Whitaker.

Shoes not given to students during the months of August and September are later utilized by Women’s Outreach for children who arrive in our community in need, or those families potentially leaving poor situations and start over with nothing.

Families needing shoes can contact Women’s Outreach at 403-347-2480 or for more information on the program contact Women’s Outreach or Laurie Whitaker at 403-347-6425.