Youngsters throughout Russellville and Logan County have a much better opportunity of being warm and comfortable this winter as Russellville Rotary Club continues its “Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet” and “Operation Warm” outreaches for another school year.
“Over the past four years, we’ve been able to distribute 1,197 pairs of shoes to students who need them,” says Senior Active Rotarian Jim Riley, who has chaired the program throughout its existence. “In the last three years, we’ve been able to fit young people with 696 coats.”
School Resource leaders throughout the Russellville and Logan County systems let Rotarians know which students’ families could have trouble paying for good shoes and coats. Age is not the determining factor. The shoes and coats go to everyone in need from preschoolers to seniors in high school.
Great effort is made to keep the students who receive the clothing anonymous. They are bused to Crittenden Drive Church of Christ where representatives of Shoe Carnival of Bowling Green fit them for sneakers, which come in a variety of brands, styles and colors. The coats that are distributed feature various styles and colors.
Rotarians contribute much of the funds for the project but they also invite individuals and businesses who are not part of Rotary to contribute to the cause. Riley says the cost of the two projects was almost $16,300 last year and the fund-raising goal for this year is $17,500.
“All funds for this project are maintained in a separate bank account and are 100 percent tax-deductible,” he wrote potential donors.
Contributions should be in checks written to the Russellville Rotary Foundation, Inc., and sent to Treasurer Laurie Holloway in care of Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC, CPAs at 167 South Main Street, Russellville 42276.
The theme is “do an act of kindness for someone this week.”
Brad Rogers is the current Russellville Rotary president and Joe Ross is president-elect.
Lora Lee Robey has created a Facebook page for the project called “Happy Feet Equals Learning Feet and Operation Warm.”