Provided by House of Mercy
Although the goal this year was three hundred pairs of shoes, House of Mercy was thrilled to distribute 113 pairs of shoes to 67 families the week of August 3, 2015. Thirty four families received stuffed backpacks, complete with all the supplies our most needy children require for a successful start to their new school year.
This excited young man is one of the 113 children who were grateful to receive new school shoes and supplies for the 2015-16 School Year. This was made possible by the generosity of donations to House of Mercy
The “No Shoes/New Shoes” program is now in its fifth year of providing new shoes to children who live in Manassas and throughout northern Virginia. House of Mercy (HOM), a non-profit humanitarian organization, makes the shoes available as part of their aid programs. HOM clients must take at least one class in subjects such as Money Management, ESL, GED Math, Exercise, Nutrition, and Job Search in order to qualify for the shoes. Executive Director Ann Cimini states, “We want to make sure the parents who take a class are rewarded.”
The new academic year provides a chance for kids to shed old reputations and reinvent themselves. Beginning as early as third grade, or as young as eight years of age, children become very aware of the “cool factor” of shoes. Those suffering from ill-fitting or dilapidated shoes are often targeted and ridiculed for the holes in their shoes. As a result they often choose to cut class to escape the shame and embarrassment. In addition to comfort, having a nice pair of shoes will reduce bullying, improve school attendance, and boost a child’s self-esteem. A simple pair of new shoes can be life changing for a child.
The start of a new school year is expensive for parents. In addition to the required books and supplies (averaging $64 per backpack if the school district supply list is followed, plus the cost of the backpack) children are also in need of shoes and clothing.
