The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines Fits 250 Children with Shoes this Winter

From the March April edition of the Illeiowan - -

The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines raised over $8,000 in for their annual Shoe/Boot Program. The $8,000 represents more than 1/3 of the total $20,000 raised and distributed, primarily from collections on Kiwanis Peanut Day in September, to community services and organizations.

The Des Plaines Kiwanis Club works with social workers from District 62 to identify elementary school children in need, who could not otherwise afford protective footwear for the winter months. This year more than 250 children received shoes and boots. Over the past eight years, more than 1,000 children have benefited from the Des Plaines Kiwanis Club’s Shoe/Boot Program, which grows in popularity annually.

Since its inception, the program has been supported by Square Deal Family Shoe Store in Des Plaines. Square Deal discounts the cost of the shoes to the Kiwanis Club and coordinates fitting the children selected for the Program. “We don’t just sell shoes, we fit them one pair at a time,” said Maurice Gerber, store manager.

“In addition to fundraisers and private donations to support the long running Shoe/Boot Program in Des Plaines, The Des Plaines Kiwanis Club was awarded a $4,500 grant last year from The Kiwanis International Foundation,” said Gayle Mountcastle, Des Plaines Kiwanis Club Shoe/Boot coordinator.
She added, “

The Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines is committed to this unique project that reflects our mission of changing the world one child and one community at a time.”