SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A local church is collecting shoes to help kids start the school year off on the right foot.
Pairs of new shoes are starting to pile up at Ransom Church in Sioux Falls.
“We have a clothing ministry here at Ransom and every year at about the beginning of school we would get a lot of requests for help with clothes and shoes,” Ransom Church Compassion Director Angel Metzger said.
Angel Metzger is the compassion director and says shoes were in such demand that Ransom started Shoes for Shortiez. The annual giveaway is by invite only for Sioux Falls families enrolled in a Title One school.
“Our hope is we raise their dignity, we raise their excitement to go back to school with a brand new pair of shoes and then that helps increase their attendance, which helps those connections at school, it helps just so many other things throughout the trajectory of their life,” Metzger said.
Ransom has reinforcements with partners like Scheels which has donated gift cards in recent years, and this summer is stepping up its efforts.
“I remember last year, we had a student come, very tall freshman boy who had size 15 shoe, there was no way we had a size 15 shoe but we were able to give him some gift cards to go to Scheels and be able to pick out a pair of shoes,” Metzger said.
“We have shoes here and we know our customers love to give back to the community so why not partner with them on shoe drive,” Scheels Event Coordinator Cierra Von Bergen said.
Event Coordinator Cierra Von Bergen says Scheels which will collect new shoes for Ransom Church during this weekend’s Back to School Splash event featuring Dock Dogs.
“Just to make it more convenient for customers to shop here or they can shop somewhere else and come to our event, have some fun while also donating and dropping off their shoes,” Von Bergen said.
Helping kids start the school year with a sense of confidence.
“It’s not just about a pair of shoes, it’s about how do we help these kids really get excited about learning,” Metzger said.
Ransom gave away about 1,000 pairs of new shoes last year. The church will be collecting shoes for this summer’s event through August 13th. The giveaway is Saturday, August 17th, from 9:00 to noon at Ransom Church on north Main Avenue in downtown Sioux Falls.
