St. Peter’s challenge provides new shoes for 116 students

Thanks to the mission and outreach committee at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Lewes, youngsters in the Cape Henlopen and Indian River school districts will return to classes in September with a new spring to their step.

The committee approved a $1,020 grant for Shoes That Fit, the only organization in the state that provides students in need with new sneakers at no cost and delivered directly to the child’s school.

Shoes That Fit organizers said the impact of providing brand-name shoes to students is immeasurable, improving school attendance, self-esteem, physical activity and behavior.

For brand-name shoes, the organization pays $30 a pair, so the committee’s grant will cover the cost of 34 pairs of shoes for students within the two districts.

Committee member Dan Somerset said, “I wish we could do more,” and suggested a challenge be issued to the church’s 600 members to match or exceed its grant.

“Parishioners stepped up to meet our challenge,” said Michelle Norelli, committee chair and a member of St. Peter’s governing board. She announced that the grant, now totaling $3,480, would result in new shoes for 116 students, 58 in Cape Henlopen and 58 in Indian River.

“Your commitment to providing these shoes reaps benefits not only with the positive engagement of students, but also by removing its burden on family budgets, while enabling schools in these school districts to help students who need their support,” said Joanne Glauser of Newark, who leads the Delaware chapter of Shoes That Fit. “Our partnership with schools is key to their ability to care for these students’ needs, uplift their spirits and change their outlook for the future.”

For more information about the Delaware chapter of Shoes That Fit, email jhglaus@gmail.com.

Carefully monitoring its limited budget, St. Peter’s Mission and Outreach Committee members support about a dozen projects a year locally, nationally and internationally.