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Shoe Fund Begins 18th Year

From staff reports

For the past 17 years, members of a local civic organization have been providing a special Christmas gift to needy and deserving school children. And this year’s campaign has been jumpstarted with two large-sized donations to kick off the fund-raising event.

The Scott County Rotary Club began purchasing shoes and socks back in 1989 and since that time the effort has grown from 29 pairs of shoes to more than 500 pairs.

The Rotary Club of Scott County begins its 18th campaign to provide warm shoes and socks during the holiday season. They ask local residents to send donations for the Shoe, Clothes and Educational Fund and have set a goal of $15,000 for 2006.

“We have nearly 500 needy students already signed up for this program and we urge local citizens to help make Christmas brighter for those in need,” said Greg Adams, chairman of the fund drive in 2006. “We live in a wonderful area where people are concerned about the welfare of their neighbors and every year local residents respond to our request for donations and we thank you very much.”

In the early days of the effort, members were asked to donate money in a bowl laid aside at their weekly meetings. That first year, Rotary bought 29 pairs of shoes for Scott County schoolchildren.

The Scott County Lifesaving Crew Bingo Fund made the initial donation of $2,000 and Alley’s Chapel United Methodist Church followed with a $1,000 contribution to lead off the early effort. Although the campaign just began, they have already received $3,000.

The success of the fund is determined entirely by the contributions received from the local community. Each Rotary member gives a donation of $35 and helps with the delivery of shoes and socks to schoolchildren prior to the Christmas break.

Children receiving shoes and socks are chosen solely based on evaluations by Scott County School personnel, who help identify recipients.

All of the shoes and socks are bought from Payless Shoe Stores, who gives the organization a reduced price and allows their donations to go farther.

Some of the money raised by the club may also be used for school related expenses for some of the recipients.

During the fall, the Rotary Club hosted its first-ever benefit golf tournament to raise additional funds for the Shoe, Clothes and Educational Fund. The more donations they receive, the more children that can be served.

Contributions can be sent to Children's Shoe Fund, c/o Scott County Rotary Club, P.O. Box 728, Gate City, Va. 24251. The names of all contributors will be published along with a total of all donations in the Scott County Virginia Star.

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