Rick GunnPayless Shoe Source Manager Autumn Smith on Thursday places shoes purchased for the Carson City Easter Shoe Program into their appropriate holding areas. Nearly every shelf of the storeroom was filled with shoes and socks for needy children.
The Easter Shoe Program for the Carson City School District had another successful year and offered thanks to the community for its support.
Though there are still about three dozen names of students from the Special Services program at Carson High School in the basket, Carson City School District Homeless Advocate Kim Riggs and Payless Shoe Source Manager Autumn Smith are pleased with the results.
"These names did come in late, but I told the director of the program, 'Get them to me and we'll do what we can,'" said Riggs.
Riggs has extended the deadline until Monday to purchase the needed shoes.
"I would hate to see any child go without (new shoes). So people will have the weekend left to help them out."
Carson City resident Irene King was in the store Thursday morning to buy a pair of shoes for the program.
She asked sales associate Lupe Carranza if the program was still going on.
"Oh, yes," Carranza told her, and directed her to the basket of names.
"I think it's wonderful they do this program," King said. "It's sad to think of this situation."
After choosing the name of a little girl, King allowed Carranza to choose the shoes.
"I raised two daughters and I know they have to be in style so I'm letting her pick the shoes out," King said.
Riggs said the bottom line comes down to the community, who made the program a success. She hopes to instill the program in surrounding counties.
"I don't know why it can't happen anywhere else," Riggs said.
After seeing the initial article in the Nevada Appeal, The Sporting Rage owner Kevin Gallegos donated 16 pairs of shoes that were "out of style" with current designs.
"After reading the article, I had product left over that didn't sell or was out of season," Gallegos said. "This is a great program and I told Kim if there's something she needs, I have it. I always have extra product and was looking for an avenue to distribute it."
"This community is like the most fantastic, awesome, super-duper, loving community ever," Smith said. "The people here are so amazing, that's why I love living here.
"When the first article came out -- bam! -- we had a big slam of people. Then it died off. Then when the update was printed -- bam! -- we got hit again. It's been great, we just have a few kids left to get shoes for."
Riggs will distribute the shoes next week, prior to Spring Break. Surplus shoes will be placed in the district's Clothes Closet for future needs.
