Nearly 400 Springfield schoolchildren have an opportunity to get new shoes thanks to the Springfield Hotel Lodging Association. The donation of 400 pairs of shoes will be formally presented to Cents of Pride during the SHLA meeting at noon Jan. 16 at the Doubletree hotel.
Cents of Pride is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fulfilling student needs through a reward system that reinforces positive choices and empowers students. Students are rewarded with Pride Bucks for making positive choices at school and their earnings can be used to purchase items at their school’s Pride Store.
Stores at Weller, Weaver, Robberson, Bowerman, York, Boyd, Sunshine, Pipkin (6th grade only), McGregor, Bissett, Campbell, and Holland schools serve nearly 2,700 students twice a month.
“We are so thrilled to be getting the shoes,” said Kim Acuff, Cents of Pride director. “This is a huge need for most of the kids.”
SHLA has conducted fundraisers and other programs for many years to help school-age children. Past donations include food, backpacks, school supplies, personal hygiene products, etc. The association collects cash donations from its members at each monthly meeting and partnered with Rolling Oaks Hospitality and Walker Hospitality Group to raise enough to purchase the shoes. The organization spent $3,500 on the shoes.
SHLA is a professional organization that unites representatives of Springfield’s lodging and related industries for promotion and protection of their interests. Nearly 40 lodging businesses are members of SHLA along with several associate and allied members. Learn more about SHLA at www.springfieldhotelmotel.com.