As Zelda Carter and her family entered the Payless Shoe Store on Florida Boulevard on Saturday, Carter immediately hugged the two people standing nearest the door. “This is such a blessing,” Carter told Deacon Richard Grant of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and Carol Spruell of Catholic Charities, as they laughed along with her. Carter’s 4-year-old granddaughter was among the nearly 1,000 school-aged children to receive a free, new pair of shoes during the third annual “Kicks for Kids” Back to School program. “It was coming close to the start of school, and a lot of parents were wondering where they were going to get the money,” Carter said. “This just gives me chills I’m so thankful.” Grant said several local charities provided school supplies and uniforms for area schoolchildren, but there were no resources to help put new shoes on their feet. “A lot of kids start the school year in their brother or sister’s hand-me-downs,” Grant said. “But their classmates will have a brand-new pair of shoes to show off. That’s important to kids.” With the donations from Our Lady of Mercy parishioners, Grant teamed up with Catholic Charities and Payless to fill that void. |
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