Seeing a young boy at school wearing a pair of worn-out shoes, one without a sole and no socks broke Cheryl Tillman’s heart.
She went to the store right after school and bought shoes and socks for him.
Then, she went to nurse Val Colburn to find out if there was a problem at school with students not properly shod.
“If there’s a problem, we need to solve it,” Tillman said she and Colburn agreed four years ago.
From that small beginning in the elementary school, Heart and Sole was born.
That first year, the two ladies, both mothers and grandmothersthemselves, put shoes and socks on about 70 students. The next year, they went district wide serving students - more than 100 - from kindergarten to 12th grade.
The first year, the Pea Ridge Optimist Club and Wal-Mart gave money to the project. Tillman’s son worked for Fruit of the Loom and was able to get a donation of socks one year.
“The contributions have grown and grown,” Tillman said.
“I just can’t bear the thoughtof children not having socks and shoes,” Colburn said, adding that there are children with very poorly fitting shoes who benefit from the new shoes.
“Whatever I would do for my kids, I would do for any other kid,” Tillman said. “I’m not the wealthiest person in the world, but I want to help.”
Both ladies said the children’s eyes light up when they get their new shoes.
“Oh, thank you! Can I put them on right now?”
“We’re not doing it for pats on the back,” Colburn said. “When you see a kid with no proper shoes or even socks on their feet, it’s winter time, you know their feet have got to be cold. That just breaks my heart.”
To donate, call the Intermediate School office at 451-1555, or leave a check at any school office. Boxes for sock donations are at both banks in town.
Boxes for socks are at Community First Bank & Arvest Bank.
Money may be left at any
school office for Heart and Sole.
News, Pages 1 on 11/16/2011