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Nov. 18 was a very special day for Trenton, and not only because it was his sixth birthday.
According to a news release, he also because he became the proud recipient of the 5000th pair of sneakers that have been distributed at the Shoe Express, the children's free sneaker program at the West End Christian Community Center.
In celebrating this event, Trenton received an "I Spy" quilt, donated by quilters from St. John's-Newberry United Methodist Church. Accompanied by their mother, Trenton's 5- and 8-year-old siblings each received $10 vouchers to be spent at the Center.
Eight other $10 vouchers, donated by a friend of the Shoe Express, were presented to families that followed Trenton.
The Shoe Express is a program now in its 10th year that provides brand new sneakers and socks to children from birth through school age from the Williamsport area.
"Our volunteers have been able to observe many children from the community growing up as they have come for new sneakers and socks over the years," the news release said. "Children 7 and under may return every 3 months and those 8 and above may return every 6 months for new sneakers. The Shoe Express is held on the first and third Saturday of the month, at the West End Christian Community Center, 901 Diamond St., in the city's west end."
Sneakers are distributed from 10 a.m. to noon. There are no qualifications other than a parent or guardian accompany the child or children, who must also be present to receive sneakers, since part of the program is to see that children have well-fitting sneakers, giving them plenty of room for growth.
The program started when Marge Thompson, the director of the WECCC at that time, received a grant for $5000 from the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church to start the program. In the summer of 2012, she asked Rick and Nancy Jacobs if they would be willing to co-coordinate the program. With the help of Craig Seasholtz, who initiated Shoes for Shore in Jersey Shore, and had presented the program to Thompson, the program was off and running! Craig Seasholtz donated time, talent and a computer to keep track of all those receiving sneakers and socks.
"We were a little apprehensive at first, but we did it to serve the Lord," said Rick Jacobs, co-chair, according to the news release. "As children come in all shapes and sizes so do sneakers and socks. We strive to have eight pairs of each size from toddler size 1 all the way to size 15 adult, which equals quite an inventory of sneakers! If we do not have a specific size for a child, we will find it and have it available at the next shoe event. Children who come for sneakers will hopefully find a pair that suits their fashion sense. When we began, we had a $5-$10 budget, which we were able to maintain due to Payless stores and coupons, along with a veteran discount. When Payless closed, it became more difficult to purchase sneakers and maintain that budget. Currently we try to maintain a $20 a pair budget. Have you tried to buy sneakers lately? It is a miracle we still have been able to stay within those parameters."
Over the years churches have had sock drives and sneaker drives. Curtain Middle School had a program called Socktober, which provided the Shoe Express program with all the socks it needed for many years.
"This was especially awesome, because it was a program where children were able to benefit other children," the news release said. "We prefer to purchase sneakers ourselves so that we can purchase the sizes that we are low on, however one group of school students sent us many size 9 men's sneakers, a very popular size. That was a huge blessing, because money was then available to be spent on other sizes of sneakers."
Why has the Shoe Express program given out new sneakers and socks to children from the community for the past 10 years?
"We want to put our faith in action, showing community families God's love in the shape of socks and sneakers," the news release said. "Supporting families in our community is another reason. Parents have been heard to say, 'This is a really good program!' 'Thank you! Thank You! Thank you!' 'It is getting tougher and tougher to make ends meet.' This program really helps!"
"It gives us (volunteers) a warm feeling to see the joy on a child's face after receiving a new pair of sneakers and socks. It is a blessing to be part of this ministry," Theresa Harlan, a program volunteer since the beginning of the program said, according to the news release.