Big 5 employee Steve Portie helps Empire Elementary's Denise DiMarzo load boxes of shoes into her Honda Wednesday.
Nearly 390 pairs of shoes will be distributed to students at Carson City public schools as part of the McKinney-Vento Students in Transition Program, a school official said Wednesday.
Peggy Sweetland, school district special project coordinator/students in transition liaison, said the shoes are going to students who are displaced in some manner and are without regular fixed, adequate housing during the school year as determined last Aug. 19, the first day of classes this academic year. Students in the category receive various types of help, such as other attire. birth certificates and community resources like flu shots.
Sweetland, a district veteran of 18 years and six in her current role, said she was able to obtain 388 pairs of shoes either by purchases at discounts or by direct donation. Most were purchased using money contributed to the program; eight pairs were donated. She said 347 were bought at Big 5 and 33 more at WalMart.
This year there are nearly 500 students currently in city public schools designated as in transition, according to Sweetland. She said the shoes range from those for youngsters in early childhood through grade 12.
The McKinney-Vento Students in Transition Program is located at 604 W. Musser Building 2. For more information, call Sweetland, 283-1537.
