Though often mild in comparison to other parts of the country, winters in South Carolina can bring a chill to the state. While most bundle up in coats and boots, imagine slipping on flip flops or threadbare shoes three sizes too small. It is a harsh reality in rural South Carolina.
Seven years ago, Mark Owens, associate pastor for missions and evangelism at First Baptist Church, North Augusta, and his wife could not bear to see chilled, little toes sticking out of shoes belonging to Aiken and Edgefield County school children. And so began Laces4Love.
In an unprecedented partnership with Aiken and Edgefield County schools, Laces4Love volunteers begin contacting schools in October to see if administrators would be willing to identify children within their schools who are classified by the federal government requirement for free and reduced-priced lunch and breakfast. In one area school, 80 percent of the children meet the eligibility criteria. School administrators can also classify students as “in need.”
During the month of November, parents or guardians are contacted by the church, asking for permission to give the child a new pair of shoes and socks and to obtain the child’s shoe size. All information obtained is confidential.
“The schools and the administrators in both counties have been tremendous. – We receive hundreds of thank-you notes and letters from teachers, principals and parents each year,” said Owens.
Volunteers then visit the schools the last two weeks in December and carefully remove the child’s old shoes, and, with the child’s permission, wash their feet. The child’s shoe is verified, then the children are given new socks and a new pair of shoes.
This past December, more than 1,500 children in 23 different schools received shoes. The church also sent a team to Managua, Nicaragua, to distribute 100 pairs of shoes to impoverished children around the city.
“For many of these children, this is the only Christmas present they are going to receive. The smiles on their little faces will bring joy to your heart,” said Owens.
Owens says the church response is nearly as uplifting as the shoe distribution. This past fall, more than 400 church members volunteered their time and effort. Owens calls pastor Gary Redding one of the ministry’s “biggest cheerleaders.”
“The people here have such a heart for children, and they want us to reach out to them. This is one way we can help meet a physical need in our area. I can’t say enough good things about the people in First Baptist, North Augusta,” said Owens.
Currently, First Baptist is the primary financial backing for Laces4Love, but the ministry is seeking 501(c)3 nonprofit status, which will allow the ministry to receive donations from local businesses and individuals. This spring, the ministry is expanding into Georgia schools districts as well.
“We feel the sky is the limit, and we are trusting that God will continue to lead us and point us toward the schools to which he would have us go,” said Owens.
“When you see a child get excited over a pair of shoes, you realize just how blessed most people are. We can go into our closets and find a different pair of shoes for weeks at a time. But for these kids, it may be the only pair of shoes they own.”