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August 2015 Quotes For a Cause – First Day Shoe Fund

By October 26, 2015April 14th, 2022No Comments

First Day Shoe Fund

Yes, Quotes for a Cause is still going strong! We were a bit delayed in connecting with our great cause of August, however, it was worth the wait! On October 7, Mark Jackson presented First Day Shoe Fund’s executive director, Heather Haigh, with a check for $333.00. Pictured are, board member Kristen Potts, Mark Jackson, and Heather Haigh.

First Day Shoe Fund is a local grassroots initiative, founded in 2004 by Valerie Denghel. While volunteering in Kalamazoo Public Schools, Valerie witnessed many children coming to school in shoes that were the incorrect size, worn out, and threadbare. She began purchasing new shoes for children and storing them in her basement for the schools to distribute at the beginning of the new school year. This individual effort grew to an official 501c3 organization with a Board of Directors in 2006. During this first year, 307 new pairs of shoes were distributed. In 2012, they expanded to serve students in Comstock Publics Schools who financially qualify, and, in 2014, a record of nearly 2,900 pairs of shoes were distributed in Kalamazoo and Comstock schools.

First Day Shoe Fund’s ultimate vision for the future is to distribute new athletic shoes to every student in financial need in Kalamazoo County. To make this vision a reality, they will need the help of the community. If you are interested in more information or would like to volunteer your time, host a new shoe drive, or support their program with a tax deductible donation, please follow their Facebook page or email them at firstdayshoefund@gmail.com  or via their website (www.firstdayshoefund.org).  Join them in making sure that every child in Kalamazoo County starts school on equal footing!