Shoe drive helps local students step into success

Contributed by NWFCUF

A girl tries on her new shows at Dranesville Elementary's Resource Night. Photo contributed by NWFCUF

A girl tries on her new shows at Dranesville Elementary's Resource Night. Photo contributed by NWFCUF

As students prepare to head back to school, the Northwest Federal Credit Union Foundation (NWFCU Foundation), the charitable arm of Northwest Federal Credit Union, is helping local children with an often-overlooked need: new athletic shoes.

Through its annual Step Into Success program, the Foundation distributed more than 2,100 pairs of new athletic shoes and socks to elementary school students in Reston and Herndon. The initiative was supported by community partners Eleccion, Koons Automotive, Konica Minolta and Toth Financial, along with school staff and NWFCU employee volunteers.

“At the Foundation, we’re always looking to identify unmet needs in our community,” said Taralyn Kohler, vice president and director of the NWFCU Foundation. “We realized that while many wonderful organizations provide school supplies, very few provide new athletic shoes. Yet something as simple as a new pair of properly fitting shoes can impact a student’s ability to fully participate in school, feel included and focus on learning.”

For some children, proper footwear can mean the difference between participating in gym class, recess and after-school activities or sitting on the sidelines. According to Shoes That Fit, educators reported improvements in self-esteem (92%), confidence (94%), physical activity (74%) and social interaction (85%) after children received new shoes.

“One of the most rewarding parts of our work is leveraging our resources and networks to address these often-unnoticed needs together,” said Jeff Bentley, president and CEO of Northwest Federal Credit Union and chairman of the NWFCU Foundation. “When we remove barriers, whether it’s a pair of shoes, a winter coat or access to educational opportunities, we help students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.”

NWFCU employee volunteers also helped children select the correct shoe size during back-to-school nights and distributed financial education books about saving, spending and sharing wisely.

Parents and caregivers said the new shoes helped ease financial stress and ensure their children were ready for the first day of school. Many children laced up their new sneakers on the spot.

“The NWFCU Foundation’s presence and generosity continue to build deep, supportive connections with our students and families,” said Jamie Gadley, principal at Dranesville Elementary School. “Receiving a new pair of sneakers and socks makes them feel truly valued. We have seen that when students feel cared for and equipped from head to toe, it empowers them to ‘step into success’ as they begin a new school year.”

The NWFCU Foundation will continue working with Title I schools and community partners to address local students’ needs throughout the year.

To learn more about the NWFCU Foundation and its programs, visit www.nwfcufoundation.org/