The Kewanee Area United Way voted on March 11, 2024, to develop a Shoes for Kids project for young students in the Kewanee and Wethersfield school districts. The Kewanee Area United Way hopes to provide 200 pairs of shoes to students in Head Start and Pre-K to 3rd grade. The cost of 200 pairs of shoes is $8,000. The Kewanee Area United Way is providing $3,000, and will match up to $6,000. The goal is to raise $16,000, and they are $4,000 away from their goal. The Kewanee Area United Way said they can expand to 4th to 6th grades with any funds over the $16,000 goal.
Applications will be accepted in June, and the shoes will be available for pickup at the beginning of August, before the school semester begins. Breedlove Sporting Goods has agreed to provide tennis shoes at cost to maximize the funds available for shoes. The shoes will primarily be Adidas or Sketches, and they will be appropriate styles and will vary in color and design. “KAUW is very excited to be able to provide shoes for our kids, those kids whose families struggle in our community to provide basic necessities.” “To really meet the needs of these kids, we need your help. YOU can be part of building this program through that partnership. You can see the pride in the eyes of a child who may never have had a new pair of tennis shoes to start school.” For more information, email [email protected].
You can donate at https://kauw.org/donation, mail a check to Kewanee Area United Way, PO Box 426, Kewanee, IL 61443, or drop off a donation to the KAUW staff at the Senior Citizens Center Monday to Wednesday, 9:30 AM to 1 PM.
