SAN ANTONIO — Excitement filled the air as children eagerly walked down aisles of shoes, searching for the perfect pair to start the school year. For the ninth consecutive year, the Salvation Army with support from the Harvey Najim Charitable Foundation is ensuring that kids have everything they need for a successful school year by giving them a free pair of shoes.
The organization emphasized the importance of school supplies, noting that shoes are essential items used daily. With financial pressures mounting, not every family can afford to purchase everything on their back-to-school list, often leaving new school shoes as a lower priority.
Theresita Torres, a parent, expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s definitely a blessing in disguise just because we are having a rough time right now so hearing that the kids were getting shoes I have two boys so it’s just a big blessing a big relief a big weight off my shoulders.”
Officials from the Salvation Army were thrilled to bring smiles to the children’s faces, believing that a new pair of shoes can empower kids to feel they can conquer the world.
Brad Mayhar from the Salvation Army San Antonio said, “So it’s, you know, an extra thing that we can ease for them, to let them know that, you know, okay, we got this, you know, we’ll help make sure that your child hasn’t prepared shoes.”
With the first day of school about a week away, the excitement over new shoes has the children eager to step into their classrooms.