RICHMOND, Va. — A Labor Day tradition returned to its roots Monday as the Richmond Metropolitan Association of Congregations held its annual New Shoes for Back to School giveaway at Third Street Bethel AME Church. The giveaway is in its 18th year.
This was the first giveaway in which recipients came to a location to pick up shoes since before COVID, when the group had dropped shoes off at schools for distribution.
“It’s great. Both ways are very fulfilling to be able to serve the community,” Beth Monroe, with Trinity United Methodist, said. “But, there’s something about the in-person aspect of this that just brings such joy to the volunteers and it’s just wonderful to see the recipients and their excitement as well.”
This year nine churches and one synagogue gathered more than 2,000 pairs of shoes for the giveaway.
“It really shows that people in this community care about others in the community, and that’s a really wonderful thing to see,” Monroe said.
WTVR