School and church pair up to help bring new shoes to Lind students

Steve Salins, Reporter | Last updated Apr 04, 2019 10:10am0

Journal photo by Steve Salins count

Lind Elementary School students pose with their new pair of shoes that they received on March 27. The shoe giveaway was sponsored by the Lind Cavalry Assembly of God Church through the Assembly of God USA's missions arm, Convoy of Hope.

More than 200 happy feet traveled home from Lind Elementary School last week. Every child between pre-school and sixth grade got a new pair of shoes on March 27, sponsored by the Lind Cavalry Assembly of God Church through the Assembly of God USA's missions arm, Convoy of Hope.

About an hour before classes let out, organizer Kim Schofstoll and her group of volunteers gathered in the main hallway with bags of shoes, which were sorted and marked according to destination classes. Platters of assorted zip-locked cookies accompanied the shoes to each class, so once each student tried on their new canvas shoes, they were doubly rewarded with a bag of cookies.

If you are thinking this must have been a well-organized and time-consuming operation, you would be correct. A few weeks prior to the event, a convoy of volunteers covered every class in the elementary school, measuring feet and taking names.

But three months before that, an application was made to Convoy of Hope to outfit the school. A school has to meet specific criteria to move ahead with such a project, and the partnership of the Lind Cavalry Assembly of God and Lind Elementary School met the criteria, and then it was time for the eight volunteers to measure the school.

Excitement reigned as plastic covers were removed and shoes tried on. As might be expected, a few pairs didn't quite fit and the children were quickly assured that they wouldn't miss out. In a few cases, shoes that didn't fit one child were perfect for another one who had a misfit. The few frowns morphed into smiles-probably greased by the bag of cookies.

When all was fitted, un-fitted and traded, only a very few number of children may have to wait for their re-ordered pair to arrive. Three new students had not yet attended school; their shoes will be ordered as well.

By the time feet were measured, and re-sized shoes were ordered, replacement shoes are expected about May 1. Any pair of shoes that couldn't find a kid will be donated to the Ritzville Food Pantry for distribution to someone who fits.