Connect for a Cause - First Day Shoe Fund

5416 Meredith Street,Portage MI 49002

19 September, 2022

Description

Networking is great, but doing life together is even better! One of the best ways to build authentic relationships is to spend time together giving back to our community. Connect for a Cause is a series of volunteer missions where we have an opportunity to support one of our many local non-profit members while getting to know each other outside of the business environment. During the month of September, we have partnered with a great organization where our members will have a hands-on experience making a difference in Kalamazoo County. You know the feeling. When you get a new shirt, or pair of pants, or a new pair of shoes that fit just right. You feel more confident and all of sudden you’re at your best. Feeling good and being comfortable in something as important as footwear is important for all of us. Every year, kids in our community go to school without adequate and comfortable shoes. The Chamber is excited to partner with First Day Shoe Fund, a local, grassroots initiative whose mission is to distribute new shoes to local kids throughout the school year. Join us on on Monday, September 19 from 3 to 5:00 pm to help First Day Shoe Fund package shoes to get ready to deliver to students in our community. The location is TBD but will be in Kalamazoo. We’ll update you with the exact location once the school year begins. Space is limited, so RSVP today! About First Day Shoe Fund First Day Shoe Fund is a local, grassroots initiative whose mission is to provide a unique service to students in pre-k through fifth grade at any Kalamazoo County public elementary school by distributing new shoes throughout the school year. Founder Valerie Denghel realized this need through her volunteer work in Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS). Since many families were unable to purchase new shoes, Valerie noticed students were wearing shoes that were the incorrect size, tattered or worn. First Day Shoe Fund believes that every child should start school on equal footing, and distributes a new pair of properly fitting athletic shoes to any student in need. The goal is to help these students succeed both in and out of the classroom.