My Students

Have you ever worn the WRONG shoes to do an activity? Do you remember the blisters or the ending discomfort? This is the feeling the color guard girls experience every time they march or perform.

These students are in an urban school.

95% of enrollment is free and reduced lunch, and sending home a request to parents for money is just not ethical of feasible. The color guard had no existed for 20 years until this season and this group of girls is working very hard. We found some shoes in storage but were missing the middle and common sizes. So often urban students are seen as the characters portrayed in movies or after school specials of gangs and violence, and yes, those kids are around, but the kids in this group are the kind of kid that is working to improve their situation and spend time in a positive and safe environment.

My Project

Shoes, a seemingly basic necessity? Shoes for guard and dance are $25.00 each. A trip to dinner? A new cute t-shirt? But for this group is is a pair of shoes that would match and not make them self conscious. A pair of shoes that will not cause blisters in a parade. A pair of shoes that will make what they are trying to do easier. A simple pair of the most basic jazz shoes made. Sometimes a chance to look like "everybody else" in groups is something kids need and cannot have without help.

When we look back at high school, the events we remember are not great assignments or tests, but the extra curricular activities , the moments that we felt a part of something.

Extra activities keep urban kids safe at school a little while longer, inspire them to keep grades up to stay eligible, and allow them to be a part of a school community of kids with common hopes and goals. Your help in giving them shoes, shows them they are important, for many reasons, and we want to help.