Christmas Shoes for Luther Students

Monday of this week started off fun for 40 Luther elementary students and a host of teachers and volunteers who all rode the bus to an Edmond shoe store to shop.

Here’s a video recap of the event.

A Monday morning field trip to Payless Shoes in Edmond allowed 40 Luther elementary students to select a brand new pair of shoes and socks.

Principal Sheila Wilson started this program three years ago, taken from her experiences as a principal in Chickasha. She remembers a sixth grade students getting to go to a store. The students stuck his nose in the shoes and said, “that’s what new shoes smell like.”

The memory still brings tears to her eyes when she thinks of it and determines that no students should have to wait until sixth grade to get that new shoe smell.

Her first year in Luther, 15 kids made the shoe store trip.

Last year, two students per class were nominated to go.

This year, three students per class got their feet measured, and chose tennis shoes, boots, sparkly flats or loafers. The students picked out socks too, and the Superhero variety were the biggest hit.

She said the project is funded totally from donations and collecting money here and there. Some of it comes from the teacher’s coke fund, some from a couple of sticker machines that get a little bit of money. She said most of the funds come from donors who want to remain anonymous.

The generosity added up and the coupons were applied to pay the final bill that was just more than one thousand dollars. The money bought forty pairs of shoes and socks for kids who need it. She said she’s never seen a sweeter bunch of kids who are awestruck and thankful for the gesture.

Mrs Wilson collects the money all year, and she is accepting donations. Her goal is for any student who needs shoes to be able to make this trip next year.

Kimberly K MIller – Attorney