The Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment (BLEC) announces that it has partnered with SOLE Stepping and Molina Healthcare to donate over two hundred shoes to children from low-tomoderate income families in the Midlands Region on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at its building located at 1218 Batchelor Street in West Columbia.
The event will be preceded by BLEC’s brief ceremony honoring the remarkable life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Civil Rights icon whose National Holiday observance will be held on Monday, January 20.
“We are pleased and excited to provide this service to families living in these communities,” said Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton, BLEC executive director. “Shoes are often the most visible sign of poverty. With one in five children living in poverty, it is a reality that impacts every school district in America.”
“The simple gift of a new pair of shoes can positively change a child’s world. That is why SOLE Stepping never distributes previously owned shoes to children in our schools.”
“We are also grateful for the support of two outstanding organizations that share our commitment to make a difference in the various communities served by BLEC.”
She also said BLEC is pleased to have SOLE Stepping support for the first time since the initiative started in 2016. SOLE Stepping is a certified 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides new shoes and socks to elementary school students in South Carolina.
“SOLE Stepping is honored and excited to be part of the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration in partnership with the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center” said Kara Miller, SOLE Stepping Founder. “We look forward to joining with
students will be able to meet the challenge again this year,” said Dr. Witherspoon “I don’t mind getting sprayed with Silly String or slimed, as long as I know the students are taking the time to enjoy the books they’re reading.”
Last year’s challenge was the first year students tracked the number of minutes they’ve read instead of the number of books. The goal was for students to read for 1.5 million minutes. Students across the district exceeded the goal by reading for 6,010,907 minutes.
others in commemorating his vision and fostering unity to bring meaningful experiences that honor Dr. King’s impact and inspire future generations to continue his work.”
Meanwhile, Molina Healthcare, Inc., is a FOR-TUNE 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance Marketplace. Molina Healthcare has been instrumental in forming this partnership and will sponsor the New Shoes event.
According to Dr. Richburg Cotton, SOLE Stepping has gifted more than 15,000 pairs of shoes to elementary school children in the Midlands since the launch of the initiative.
For more information, please contact Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton at 803-744- 7943 or via email at crichburgcotton@brookland.cc or contact Ms. Kara Miller at 843-826-1189 or via email at solestepping@gmail.com.
