ROCKINGHAM – Thanks to First Presbyterian’s Pairs and Spares Sunday School class, 790
Richmond County students will be picking out a new pair of shoes just in time for the holidays
through the New Shoes for Christmas Fund.
“It’s always been a special project for the church,” said Sue Stevenson, treasurer of the Pairs and
Spares class.
Stevenson said the project came about over 30 years ago when a church member who moved
from Alabama mentioned a similar shoe campaign their church did and wanted to see if it was
something they could implement in the county to meet the needs of the children.
“Teachers would talk about how their students would come to school with inadequate shoes,” she
said.
The group started on a small scale and set a goal for the first year at around 400 pairs of shoes,
which Stevenson said they exceeded.
“We met that goal to everyone’s surprise,” she chuckled.
Based on free and reduced lunch numbers, each Richmond County elementary school receives a
certain number of certificates.
Then, guidance counselors take the students to either JCPenney at Richmond Plaza Shopping
Center or The Shoe Department at Falling Creek Plaza.
“Most teachers are very attuned to the needs of their students and families, so they select
students based on the needs they know,” said Richmond County Schools’ Director of Student
Services Wendy Kelly Jordan. “And parents must always give permission in order for the
students to participate.
“Additionally, our school counselors do an awesome job with ensuring that siblings are not
excluded or including students with situations teachers may not be aware of.” Jordan has seen the program grow and evolve from two lenses: as a principal and as the director
of Student Services. Since being in her role as director of Student Services, she’s now able to
help coordinate across the district.
“This ministry is such a blessing to the Sunday School Class, the schools, the families, the
children and the store employees,” said Jordan. “The excitement of the children is infectious and
when you consider just how much giving has taken place for this program to be as broad as it
really is, it give you pause. The community support is overwhelming.”
Over the next couple of days, the stores will set up a selection of shoes for students to choose
from and let them pick out their favorite pair.
“The kids have a wonderful time, and they’re so tickled,” said Stevenson. “The ones who have
the most fun are the ones who are waiting on the children, and the teachers and counselors are
also there to help.”