Holyoke Elementary students surround a giant shoe full of shoes to donate to less fortunate kids. Students are pictured from left, front row, Andres Bencomo; second row, Sophia Bencomo and Courtlyn Kinnie; and back row, kindergarten teacher Cynthia Bahler, Lily Salas, Sophie Rahe and Jassmin Montes. — Johnson Publications
Elementary students join in the spirit of giving
Joining in the season of harvesting, collecting and giving, Holyoke Elementary students harvested pennies, collected shoes and gave to students in need in Missouri and Texas.
As part of a fall service project, the Sunshine Committee (a group of teachers and staff at the elementary school) promoted a project to collect shoes for underprivileged children. Wanting their donations to go to someone with whom they have a direct link, they chose former elementary art teacher Christina Martinez.
After teaching in Holyoke for seven years, Martinez now teaches at an elementary school in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Keeping in touch with her former co-workers in Holyoke, Martinez told them that, although the school where she teaches is well funded, some of the children come from very low-income families and are in need of basic items.
Thus came the idea to collect new and gently used shoes for Martinez to distribute to her students in Missouri. After the final count at the end of the school day Tuesday, Nov. 21, 90 pairs of shoes, boots and sandals in all shapes and sizes were collected to donate.
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