BENTON, Ark. (KATV) — Hundreds of families gathered at the First United Methodist Church of Benton Christian Life Center for the 8th annual Footsteps Shoe Drive event, a collaborative effort with Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. The event, part of the Ralph Bunche Community Picnic, provided over 300 pairs of free sneakers to students ahead of the new school year.
Wade Partridge, a member and volunteer at First United Methodist Church, emphasized the event’s impact. “We are able to show some love and some compassion to these kids while they get a new pair of shoes to go back to school. So it’s a wonderful event,” he said.
Russell Hall, Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church, highlighted the importance of the event for students’ self-esteem. “It’s about the confidence that the kids can have going into a new school year not feeling self-conscious about what they’re wearing,” he said…