Grace United Methodist Church is continuing to assist local students through a program that originally started as a one-time mission project.
Now three years later, Khicks for Kids is continuing to provide local youth with new shoes free of charge. Saturday, the program put over 200 pairs of shoes on the feet of local youngsters who in some cases cannot afford them.
Grace United Pastor Brenda Ulrich says the program fills two major needs, one it helps alleviate the burden on parents to constantly finance new shoes. Secondly, it helps to reduce distractions and build the confidence of young people.
Kicks for kids began back in 2018 after the youth group chose to do a mission project in place of a mission trip. The group that, at the time, consisted of seven young men, came up with the idea to provide new shoes for those who could not afford them.
Since that time, Ulrich says Khicks for Kids has become a congregational project.
In its first year, the program brought in $15,000 for the purchase of new shoes. At this time, Ulrich says the church’s shelves are full of shoes and they are in a “re-evaluation” phase with the program to see how they can expand it in the future.
