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Shoe Fund Nears $6,000 Mark

From staff reports

The balance of an annual drive that brings smiles and tears of joy to deserving youngsters continues to rise.

Each year since 1989 the Rotary Club of Scott County has accepted contributions that allow them to purchase new shoes and socks for selected Scott County students through the Shoe Fund.

In the past two weeks, the fund balance has grown to nearly $5,600 - an amount still short of the 2011 goal of $16,000.

"We are thankful to live in any area where we can count on our community to help with those in need and we are very appreciative of the donations we have received this year and in previous years," explained Jim Addington, chairman of the annual campaign.

For the 2011 campaign, the club will assist 575 students by buying them a new pair of shoes and three pairs of socks. Recipients are selected by school personnel and donated items are dropped off at each of the county's schools including Head Start.

Rotary members have played early Santa to this year's recipients with all items delivered before last week's Thanksgiving break. The gifts are purchased through an arrangement with Payless Shoes in Kingsport, Tenn., who gives the club a discount rate for the shoes and socks purchased.

"We have enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Payless Shoes for many years," Addington noted. "That way our donated dollars can be stretched further and children receive the latest styles in shoes at a lower cost."

Members of the Rotary Club's Shoe Fund Committee are Tammy Herron, M.A. Lunsford, Terry Kilgore, Chris Kimbler, Bob Parks and David Wettack.

According to Addington, more than 11,000 students have received shoes during the 23-year history of the Shoe Fund.

A total of $3,020 was received over the past two weeks for the Rotary Club’s annual Shoe Fund Drive. The current balance of the campaign stands at $5,595.40.

Donations were received from Jimmy Amburgey Jr., Jimmy Haynes, Keyn Cyr Cox - in memory of Ken Sanders, Elzoria Hickam, Willis M. Grimm , M.A. Lunsford, Jim and Kay Addington - in memory of Jeff Baker, Nell McClellan, Nelda Hill, Alley’s Chapel United Methodist Church, M.E.T.S. Group of Gate City United Methodist Church, Bucky and Mary Clabaugh - in memory of Jeff Baker, Geoff and Amy McVeigh - in memory of Jeff Baker, Rye Cove Intermediate School, James and Shirley Stapleton, Roger and Earline Lane, Benny Reed - in memory of his late wife, Velda Winegar Reed, Catherine Haynes, Barbara C. Quillin, Dennis and Alice Fritz, David and Amy Wettack, Diana Sumner, Ruby Faye Bellamy, Mike Thomas, Jewell Giles Horton Harrell, Ron and Faye Turner, Phillip and Peggy Stanley and the Fairview Citizens Corporation.

Contributions can be sent to Children's Shoe Fund, c/o Rotary Club of Scott County, P.O. Box 728, Gate City, Va. 24251-072S.

The names of all contributors will be published along with a total of all donations in the Scott County Virginia Star.