Helping hands: How St. Paul’s Shoe Bank is filling needs in the Centre Region
Spring is in the air! There is the sound of new sneakers squeaking in the hallways and on the playground. Children playing outside. But what happens when a parent can’t afford new sneakers for their child? St. Paul’s Shoe Bank can help.
St. Paul’s Shoe Bank is located in Room 203 of the Wesley Foundation of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in State College, with the entrance through the red doors on Locust Lane.
We are open almost every Saturday morning from 9 a.m.-noon, with any closings or changes posted on our Facebook page, St. Paul’s Shoe Bank (we are closed the months of January and July).
The Shoe Bank has been in operation for 35 years, giving new sneakers to children in the Centre Region up to 18 years of age with a medical assistance card or a referral from a local social service agency. Clients may come every 6 months for a new pair. Where there is a need, we try to fill it.
Starting in November we have a supply of used and new boots, available on a first come, first served basis. Each client is also given a new pair of socks, some donated by a local church and some purchased. Each child may take two books from our library. The books have been donated by the community and our local Altrusa International of Centre County.
We recently started a simple craft activity for children to do while they wait their turn to be fitted for shoes. We have also been given the opportunity to help some Out of the Cold clients, as well as some immigrant families, with shoes and boots.
While the primary goal of the St. Paul’s Shoe Bank is focused on children, we have three large wire shelves outside of the Shoe Bank that are filled with gently used (and some new) shoes that may be taken by anyone who needs them. These can include anything from sandals to sneakers, dress shoes to work boots, depending on donations.
Volunteers are the backbone of our mission, and they work year-round to buy shoes, check and change inventory, and help on Saturdays to fit and make sure each child receives a pair of well-fitting sneakers. The funds to support this mission come from congregational donations and from our participation in the annual online giving event at CentreGives.org on May 6-7. As our numbers rise and the cost of shoes increases, we rely on these donations. If you need additional information please contact me at shoebank@stpaulsc.org or call the church office at 814-237-2163.
Jan Bartoo Becker is the St. Paul’s Shoe Bank coordinator.