Sole Mates will provide shoes for students

The Lodge, an assisted living center, is teaming up with the Carson City School District to provide shoes to students in need.

As part of Sole Mates — Stepping up to Help Kids, the community is being asked to donate a new pair of athletic shoes to children in the Students in Transition program during the month of September. The program serves children who live in cars, motels, campgrounds or doubling up with other families.

“Research shows that elementary and middle school students go through an average of two pairs of shoes a year,” said Peggy Sweetland, director of the Students in Transition program. “Our students walk a lot.”

She said the students in Carson City are no exception.

“Middle school walk zones are two miles and elementary one mile, one way,” she explained. “That’s an average of 40 to 80-plus miles per month only to go to and from school. Severe weather conditions seriously shorten the life of our students’ shoes, and we may be in for a big winter.”

Shoes are particularly needed in the following sizes:

Girls — 8, 9, 10,11, 12, 13, 1 and 2

Women’s — 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5

Boys — 13 and 4

Men’s — 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, and 13

Sweetland said the drive brought in 60 new shoes last year, but the supply needs to be replenished.

“Our stock is seriously depleted,” she said. “We are looking forward to building it up and getting shoes out to our neediest students.”