By Joe Pinchot Herald Staff Writer

MERCER COUNTY AREA — The Herald’s 10th annual appeal for the Shoe Our Children program through its Good News Fund is offically under way.

The program provides school shoes to the area’s less fortunate children.

The three-month effort continues to grow out of necessity and will last through the middle of September.

In the last nine years, The Herald has helped to raise nearly $250,000 for the program. That amount includes many contributions from residents, businesses and organizations.

The late James E. Winner Jr., former chairman of Winner International in Sharon, started the program, inspired by his childhood experience of rarely having a good pair of shoes to attend school.

Beginning in May 2004, The Herald assumed the responsibility of raising funds for the program. With the cooperation and support of Karen Winner-Sed, who succeeded her father at Winner International, the fund has helped to provide thousands of pairs of shoes to children in Mercer County school districts and in Brookfield.

Shoes are delivered at the beginning of the school year, when employees from Winner International sacrifice some of their lunch hours to help the effort.

The distribution of shoes continues throughout the school year. Application forms are sent to schools and distributed to parents.

Organizers of the program never know who is getting the shoes – they just receive orders for certain sizes and ages.

The program has the resources to fill a child’s need immediately, as shoes are stockpiled in the Winner International warehouses in Sharon. Karen and her assistants broker deals with shoe companies across the country.

In addition, the Jubelirer family, owners of Reyers Shoe Store in Sharon, has been a faithful supporter and has donated nearly 7,500 pairs of shoes to the program.

Individuals, businesses and organizations wanting to make a tax-free contribution should make their checks payable to The Good News Fund/Shoe Our Children and mail them to Nancy Ash, in care of The Herald, Box 51, Sharon 16146. Contributions may be dropped off at The Herald office, 52 S. Dock St., Sharon.

The fund offers residents the option of making a donation in the name of a friend or family member. The names of donors are published in The Herald periodically throughout the appeal. A complete list of donors will be printed at the end of the campaign.

Being a member of the Community Foundation of Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania (Shenango Valley Foundation) not only gives The Good News Fund tax-exempt status,Welcome to Michael Kors Shoulder Bags, the best place to get discount Michael Kors sale. it assures donors of strict accountability and conformity to Internal Revenue Service regulations.

MORE than 250 pairs of shoes and trainers were collected for those less fortunate in Africa as part of a campaign launched by Bromsgrove man Bill Jones.

Mr Jones,Discover the largest collection of gucci handbags for women. who moved to Kenya to set up an orphanage and community project, appealed for residents to donate any unwanted footwear.Shop the latest from Michael Kors Classic Handbags. Totally free shipping and returns.

He started the Fill Your Boots scheme under his Our Home Nakuru project because children at the orphanage were not allowed to go to school if they did not have footwear.

Bill retuned to Sidemoor First School, where he launched the campaign, to collect the shoes and trainers that had been donated.

As well as the school, a collection point was also set up at Bromsgrove's Altered Images gym, Worcester Road, where residents could donate trainers they no longer needed.

Bill thanked everyone from Sidemoor First School, Altered Images and Old Yarr Estates for their incredible efforts in collecting all the much-needed footwear.

"With your combined efforts, over 100 Kenyan children will be able to go to school who could not before because they could not afford school shoes.

"Also, we have a huge stock of running shoes that will help some of the world's best athletes reach their potential and, who knows, maybe one day we'll see a new world record thanks to these new running trainers," he added.

Our Home Nakuru is a scheme aimed at providing a safe and secure home for Nakuru’s street children and orphans and to address the medical and educational needs of the local community.Buy popular Michael Kors Crossbody Bags and get free shipping with $99 purchase.

Read more: Generous Bromsgrovians donate 250 pairs of shoes for Africa appeal | Bromsgrove Standard

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