Big 5 Spoting Goods store manager Scott Norris loads boxes of shoes into a truck on Tuesday morning. More than 350 pairs of shoes will be provided to Carson City School District needy students in transition.
More than 300 Carson City students received new shoes Tuesday from the district’s annual Step into Spring program.
Step into Spring benefits Carson City students in the McKinney-Vento Students in Transition program through all grades. These students lack a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence.
“It is important for our students to have new shoes just like all the other kids in the district,” said McKinney-Vento liason Peggy Sweetland. “Not only do new shoes make you feel good, but then our students are also able to participate in PE and have adequate footwear since many of them walk to school everyday.”
Sweetland said having the shoes isn’t just important for the physical aspects of school but the mental ones as well.
“I know I am able to concentrate better when my feet are cozy and warm,” Sweetland said. “This help our students focus on what they need to be focusing on, which is their education.”
Big 5 Sporting Goods provided all 352 pairs of shoes at a generous discount to the district and the $8,000 needed to purchase the shoes was donated by Harley Davidson Financial Services. Each representative picked up their collection from Big 5 Tuesday and will be distributed throughout the week to students. Sweetland said the biggest shipment went to Carson High School with 70 pairs of shoes.
This is the 12th year the district has put on this program.
