Catholic Charities takes part in Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Wilmington recently announced it hasbeen selected as an official partner of Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids, an annual giving program from Payless ShoeSource, joining other charitable agencies representing all 50 states in the United States in distributing merchandise certificates for children’s shoes to families on their client list.

“We at Catholic Charities thank Payless Shoes and their Gives Shoes 4 Kids program for meeting this important need for the children we serve through our Child and Adult Care Food program,” said Richelle A. Vible, executive director of Catholic Charities. “We serve over 3,000 children by supporting their licensed day care’s efforts to provide nutritious food during the day. To be able to give them the opportunity to get new shoes is very rewarding.”

The Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federally funded program administered by the states, provides help to licensed family or group day care homes for the provision of nutritious foods that contribute to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children. Catholic Charities is one of three sponsors of the Delaware program.

This is the seventh year of the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program. Although studies show that properly fitting shoes are important for children’s health and development, a striking number of children don’t own a pair of shoes that fit right. This program works to remedy that in Delaware.

“By helping families who struggle to provide their children with basic essentials on a daily basis, Catholic Charities, in partnering with the Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids program, hopes to relieve some of the stress parents feel during the holidays and bring joy to as many children as possible,” Vible said.

For more information, go to www.cdow.org/charities.html or call 302-655-9624.