MINERSVILLE - Students at St. Nicholas School are gathering footwear.
The students hope to collect 250 pairs of shoes to give to Soles4Souls, a charity based in Tennessee, that distributes them to the needy.
The students began their collection Jan. 3 and it will continue through Feb. 29. Donations will also be accepted at the St. Nicholas Church, 415 N. Front St.
This is the first time the school has participated in this, said Susan Miller, academic coordinator.
Second grade students Johnny and his sister, Abigail Adams, both 7, launched the effort at the school after learning about how to help others through a commercial on Nickelodeon. Abigail sold lemonade during a firemen's convention last year and gave the proceeds to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Wanting to continue her social activism, she asked her father to do more research. That's when he discovered the shoe organization, Jodi, her mom, said.
"I knew it would be good to help people," Abigail said Friday while at the school.
The organization started its mission after the devastation of the 2004 tsunami that occurred in Southeast Asia. So far, it has distributed more than 16 million pairs of shoes to the needy, according to its website, www.soles4souls.org.
Shoes are sent to one of several distribution points and later distributed. To defray the cost of shipping, a donation is requested. The group has sent shoes to locations within the United States and internationally. Those seeking to donate are asked to contribute $1, Jodi Adams said.
The students in Johnny and Abigail's class said they want to help others.
"Why do you think it's a good idea to donate shoes to children who need them?" their teacher, Julie Ridings ,asked the children.
Faith Eckley, 7, said " 'cause it's nice."
Every class in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade is participating.
"I'm sure we're going to have hundreds until this is over," Miller said.
One family already sent in 40 pairs of shoes, she said.
Jodi Adams said she is proud of her children.
"I think it's a great idea. They have big hearts. They want to help others. There's lots of people out there that are less fortunate."
