One out of four children lives in poverty in New Mexico with thousands of children never having owned a new pair of shoes. KRQE Cares Shoes for Kids program looks to change that by getting new shoes to children in Title 1 schools in Albuquerque.
Community Relations Director at KRQE Media Group, Carolyn Rush explains that after learning that shoes were among the most needed items for local school children in Albuquerque Public Schools, KRQE partnered with the Assistance League of Albuquerque and Kirtland Federal Credit Union to help put shoes on the feet of every child in the school.
KRQE Cares will then visit local Title 1 schools and provide new shoes for every child in the school.
“It’s more than shoes. We’re finding that many kids, their attendance has gone up, their confidence has gone up, they’re participating in class more. So it’s really important that those kiddos have new shoes” said Rush.
Sarah Horton with Kirtland Federal Credit Union explains that their company is closely tied to Kirtland Air Force Base and understands that families there extend into the community.
“It really touched each of us that participated. You think about when we were kids and that new pair of shoes, you run faster, you do better, you feel more confident and so we wanted to extend our mission and help the community in participating in this great event,” said Horton.
Kirtland Federal Credit Union presented a $10,000 check to KRQE Cares and the Assistance League to benefit Shoes for Kids. A phone bank will also take place Thursday, August 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on KRQE News 13 and FOX NM.
