Kent County nonprofit helps kids with new shoes and more

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Parents worried about finding new shoes for their kids this school year can breathe a sigh of relief. A Kent County nonprofit has reintroduced its annual S.H.O.E.S. program, providing new athletic shoes to elementary students at DeVos Place starting Tuesday.

This year, In The Image aims to supply over 4,100 children with brand-new shoes. The organization will also offer free vision screenings and connect families with local resources to ensure a smooth start to the school year. To qualify for the program, families must live in Kent County and have a child enrolled in kindergarten through 5th grade.

Volunteers will be set up near the venue’s Grand Gallery, near the government center parking ramp across Monroe Avenue.

Since its inception in 1996, the S.H.O.E.S. program has distributed more than 100,000 pairs of shoes to children in the Grand Rapids area. The goal is to ensure every child can play, learn, and grow with confidence.

“Anyone who has an elementary student knows they’re very active,” said Ashley Lubbers, Executive Director of In The Image. “If you don’t have the footwear you need, you’re not going to be able to participate in the things that happen at school. Another unique thing about the S.H.O.E.S. program is it’s very kid-centric. The kids get to choose what they want—the color, the character, the style, the light-ups. It’s really about the kids. We want them to build confidence and be excited for school.”

The event runs through Saturday, August 3, with varying hours each day:

• Tuesday, July 30: 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, July 31: 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Thursday, August 1: 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Friday, August 2: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Saturday, August 3: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Community members who want to help can do so in two ways: donating money or volunteering time.

“Everything In The Image does is free to participants and everything we do is funded by the Grand Rapids community,” Lubbers explained. “If you can donate $20, that helps us provide a pair of shoes. If you’re able to give more, that just helps us serve more kids in need.”

Volunteers are needed both during the event and beyond. For more information on how to support In The Image and the S.H.O.E.S. program, visit their website or contact them directly.

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