Shoes 4 the Soul benefits 750 local children

"This program is just amazing. Some of these kids, their shoes are in rough shape, and our resource officers can only do so much. This helps them," said Vanessa Sizemore, a teacher at Whitley East Elementary, one of the schools that attended University of the Cumberlands' (UC) annual Shoes 4 the Soul event. "Another thing, though, is that the kids come to a college campus. This might be the only time some of them come to a college. And having the church aspect at this event, some of the kids don't get that in their daily lives. This is beneficial all the way around. One of the little ones ran up to me earlier like, 'Look at my new shoes!' It's exciting for them."

The Office of Campus Ministries spent months in preparation for the award-winning community service event, working on it in between other ministry projects since March 2024. The program serves the highest-need children, as identified by the teachers and family resource officers at their respective schools.

In all, between the in-person event and a special shoe delivery to a school that couldn't attend, Cumberlands provided shoes, socks, and hygiene supplies – not to mention a day of fun! – to approximately 750 children from nine local schools. That's a new record for children served in one year’s event, helping 130 more children than in 2023.

"This is definitely something that's needed in our school," said Nicki Bryant from Whitley North Elementary. "These kids have very little. I like that the event is so Christ-centered. It's very needed."

Schoolchildren were greeted onto Cumberlands' campus by UC students who smiled at them, gave them high-fives, and sometimes made "spirit-finger tunnels" for them to walk under. Inside the O. Wayne Rollins Center gymnasium, upbeat Christian music filled the room, and UC students (as well as faculty and staff) worked together to create a fun, memorable experience for the children. They paired up with the kids, washed their feet (reminiscent of how Jesus washed his disciples' feet in the Bible), and gave them new socks, shoes, and a drawstring bag full of travel-sized hygiene items like soap, toothpaste, and deodorant. Then the student-child pairs walked upstairs to the indoor track to have a Polaroid picture taken of them for the child to bring home. Finally, the children each received a free T-shirt and got to do a coloring page before returning to the stands to sit with their classmates.

Some of the schoolchildren didn’t really sit, though. They attend events hosted by Appalachian Ministries (AM), a Cumberlands campus ministry, throughout the year. So, naturally, those kids stood in the stands and showed off the dance moves they had learned at AM as they danced along to the music in the gym.

Barek Williams, a sophomore basketball player at Cumberlands, said of the event, "It's a 100 percent unique experience. It's awesome to be able to see these kids get the shoes they might not have been able to get. It makes you and the kids feel good. It's important to share God's love to everybody."

Nine local elementary and intermediate schools participated in Shoes 4 the Soul 2024: Whitley Central Primary, Whitley Central Intermediate, Whitley North, Whitley East, Oak Grove, Boston, Pleasant View, Whitley City, and Williamsburg Independent.

Cumberlands worked in tandem with Shoe Sensation in Williamsburg to purchase the shoes. To top off the event with something sweet, Forcht Bank brought one of their ice cream trucks to the college campus and gave small cups of ice cream to the kids as they left.

In 2023, Cumberlands’ Office of Campus Ministries was honored to receive a Faith-Based Governor’s Service Award (GSA) in recognition of the impact of its Shoes 4 the Soul event.

Per the GSA, “The Shoes 4 the Soul event at UC continues to be a powerful tradition, showcasing the institution’s dedication to community service and wellbeing of local children. The impressive numbers and involvement of UC students, faculty, and staff highlights the enduring significance of this annual event.”

As Jacob Ratliff, director of campus ministries at Cumberlands, said in a release by the school announcing the GSA award, “Year after year, it is a privilege to model the love of Christ through washing feet and meeting the physical needs of local children through giving them new socks and shoes. Each child walks away knowing they are special and loved. Their smiles are infectious as they step out wearing new shoes to match their personalities.”

Shoes 4 the Soul is entirely funded by donations. To provide new shoes, socks, and hygiene items to a child next year, visit www.ucumberlands.edu/support-cumberlands.

Learn more about University of the Cumberlands’ commitment to community service at www.ucumberlands.edu/community-service.