United Sole helps families with shoes for school
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STEUBENVILLE -- With the start of the new academic year not that far off, parents with school-age children will be looking at purchasing clothing and other items.
Some area residents, though, will be faced with the decision of buying an item like a pair of shoes or using their money for another essential.
“You know, people don’t realize that sometimes, shoes are shoes. But sometimes you have to chose -- am I getting the kids’ shoes or am I getting milk, or eggs, or bread or paying the rent?” said Marci Snyder Crawford. “There are people who don’t realize some of the options that families face.”
Snyder Crawford, the executive director of the United Way of Jefferson County, said that’s why the organization continues to hold its yearly United Sole campaign. The goal is to make sure children in Jefferson and Harrison Counties have a free, brand-new pair of shoes before they return to school.
“It’s a way to make them feel comfortable and confident. We’ve done it for years,” she added.
Students under the age of 18 who live in Jefferson and Harrison counties and who qualify for free or reduced lunches can participate in the program. A parent or guardian has to fill out an application and provide proof of residency and an ID card for each child and adult in the household.
The deadline for submitting an application is Friday.
Last year, 450 children received shoes through the project, which is sponsored by Cardinal Operating Co. and Trinity Health System with support from a grant from the PNC Charitable Trust.
The distribution was among the first tasks Snyder Crawford had to coordinate after stepping into her role last July. She said she’s working to make the program known to more people this year.
“I’m really going to push this time,” Snyder Crawford explained. “I’ve sent e-mails out to all of the schools, and they have been sharing them. We’re trying to get into those corners of our county that just get missed.”
This year’s distribution will be held Aug. 10 during the Back-to-School Bash sponsored by the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and held in the parking lot of the Main Branch of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County, 407 S. Fourth St. Parents or guardians who can’t make that event will be able to pick up shoes Aug. 11 and Aug. 12 at the United Way office, 511 N. Fourth St.
Programs like United Sole -- or those offered by any of the agencies that are supported by the United Way -- are important for our area, she said. In Jefferson County, 44 percent of the residents live in poverty or can’t pay for their basic needs, Snyder Crawford added. Looking more closely at that number, 17 percent are in poverty and the remainder are considered to fall into the ALICE category -- they are Asset Limited, Income Constrained and Employed.
That means they are working and earning money but can’t cover their basic needs.
Having that new pair of shoes to wear to school can make a difference in the lives of children.
“You don’t realize what the effect can be,” Snyder Crawford said. “We did United Soul last year, and then the next week, they had the bash at the library, and I was there. There were these three kids walking around with no shoes, and the kids told me and the workers in all of the booths that they didn’t have shoes.
“So, I hurried back to the office to see what leftovers we had and we were able to get them some shoes,” she added. “It was something to make them feel comfortable.”
Snyder Crawford added that she was encouraged by the number of applications that already have come in from the outlying areas, like Brilliant and Smithfield and parts of Harrison County.
For information about United Sole or to receive an application, visit the office; call (740) 284-900; or look on the United Way’s website, unitedway-jc.org.
Snyder Crawford said she also was working to prepare for this year’s Day of Action, which will be held Aug. 27. The day will begin with a breakfast and campaign event at Hellenic Hall inside Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Afterward, volunteers will travel throughout the county to complete service projects that support local nonprofits, improve community spaces and help meet critical needs.
For information about participating in the event, contact the United Way office or Snyder Crawford at mcrawfor@unitedway-ic.org.