Shoes for Homeless Students

As part of the Civic Leadership Council/Leadership 2000, Class XXIII, we heard from the Advocate for homeless students in Wyandotte County. She and her team of five have identified 1,100 homeless students. Their average age is seven (7) years old. The advocates believe there are many more who they have not yet identified because the shame and stigma of homelessness is so huge that children in school hide their circumstances so they will not be teased or hurt by others.

Living in cars with one parent and other siblings, in Church basements separated from others only by cardboard "walls"--amazingly, the majority of these children are excellent students. The Advocate noted they are aware that education is their only way out of this situation.

These children need shoes. Shoes which are weather appropriate and shoes which, for most children, they outgrow once or twice a year are needed desperately. She told us stories of taking the children with their own shoe gift certificates and watching them get measured for correctly fitting shoes for the first time in their lives; of being able to pick their own brand new pair and being able to get socks too. Having new shoes is a great social equalizer for children who mostly hide their homeless status.

Moreover, our Leadership Class XXIII, is negotiating for matching monies, reduced costs for shoes and socks and will assist in other ways to make certain these children get to go and pick their own shoes. "I'm going to be so popular with these great SpongeBob SquarePants shoes," one seven year old told the Advocate.

So I am asking each of you to join me and match my $25 donation to get shoes and socks for every identified homeless student--if each of you would match the gift and then ask five of your friends to match your gift, we could provide gift certificates for every single identified child for the whole school year.

Your gift is 100% tax deductible (we will get you a letter) and your checks can be made out to Leadership 2000--please note 'shoes' in the memo section. Or you could send your matching check directly to me, but made out to Leadership 2000.

The idea of being able to provide for every one of these children seems so doable to me, please consider being one of the people who gets new shoes for homeless students.

One of the men in our Class XXIII said simply, "I'm always so annoyed when I get home and my kids have left their shoes all over the house. Tonight I'll look at those shoes and be so glad I am able to provide shoes for my children."

Please join me and Class XXIII. We appreciate your support. Thank you!