TOLEDO— Our Helping Hands of St. Louis’ 10th Annual Shoe Fest is coming up Saturday, August 12! We need volunteers and your donations of new athletic shoes for kids sizes toddler 10 through adult 10. You can drop off your bagged shoe donations, bagged and clearly marked Shoe Fest, Helping Hands of St. Louis between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 443 Sixth Avenue, Toledo.
Please also sign up to volunteer! Upwards of 50 volunteers will spend the morning at Helping Hands of St. Louis washing children’s feet and fitting them with new shoes and socks to get their school year off on the right foot.
“Each year we’ve provided new shoes and school supplies to hundreds of school-age children,” says Sue Shrewsbery, Director of Helping Hands of St. Louis. She notes children must be present to be fitted for shoes, as shoes cannot be exchanged. Face painting, balloons, games and children’s activities will keep the youngsters occupied as they wait their turn. First come, first served.
“Donations of new athletic shoes and socks are welcomed, toddler sizes 10 up to adult size 10,” Shrewsbery adds. “Last year we provided new shoes and school supplies to over 700 school-age children at our Shoe Fest. Then we shared 300 pairs of new shoes with area schools, so we pray more donations will come in. We focus on East Toledo families, but no child will be turned away, if we have their shoe size.”
Donations of new and gently used children's books are also needed. Donations of children’s backpacks, plastic pencil boxes and school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, markers, crayons, glue sticks, dry-erase markers, hand sanitizer, tissues and Ziploc bags are also welcomed.
Items can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Helping Hands of St. Louis 2nd floor Office, 443 Sixth St., Toledo, OH, through Friday, August 11.
Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to sort shoes and set-up on Friday, August 11. Volunteers are also needed from 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 12, both adults and teens (who must be accompanied by an adult). Call the Helping Hands of St. Louis Office at 419.691.0613, ext. 101, if you are interested in becoming a tent sponsor, making donations, or volunteering.
