ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Primetime 585 and Wegmans have joined forces to help ensure students in need have fresh kicks for the new schoolyear.
The two organizations weren’t alone in this endeavor. Nearly 20 local businesses came together to collect gently used shoes that could be donated to kids.
“I would say we’re probably going to reach about 600 sneakers from 17 stores, that’s unbelievable,” Board Chair of Primetime 585 Karen Iglesia said. “Last year with Wegmans I think we did probably about 110.”
It was a more impressive turnout for the event’s second year, Iglesia explained, as the Penfield Wegmans alone turned in 100 pairs of shoes after two weeks of collecting. However, she said at least half of them came from an unlikely duo who work at the store.
“The Penfield store has 50 pairs of shoes from one couple, so I was like, ‘what do you mean!?’” Iglesia said. “It wasn’t planned, they just started going back and going back, and I think giving back is contagious.”
The couple told News 8 Friday, they wanted to help however they could.