Since 2013, Julie Peterson, of Peterson & Associates Realtors of Idaho Group, and Nampa Association of Realtors have been making a difference by providing shoes for our students in need.
It began with an email from a friend who said that East Valley Middle School was looking for tennis shoes for kids during PE Some of the kids had shoes with holes in them, with duct tape holding them together, or that were too small or too big. Julie reached out to the Nampa Association of Realtors president and board to see if they could help as a team. The answer was yes, and Julie got to work.
Working with middle school PE teachers in Nampa, they collected 110 pairs of shoes and lots of socks the first round. The Nampa Association of Realtors has continued to be very supportive of this cause, and as a group they are going into their ninth year of collecting donations for the Nampa School District.
“Last year was our best year yet,” Julie said. “We collected 351 pairs of shoes for all ages, K-12, numerous socks, supplies, laundry soap, dish soap, hand sanitizer, Kleenex, baggies and snacks.”
In total, the team has collected 1,674 pairs of shoes over the past nine years. Julie has received thank you notes from teachers who say they were able to send a child with soaking wet feet from holey shoes to the counselor for a new pair of socks and shoes. These kids know they cannot always ask their parents for shoes, so they wear their dad's shoes, or they share a pair of shoes between siblings.
Overall, NSD and the FCRCs are very thankful for Julie and the Nampa Association of Realtors in conjunction with our community for their overwhelming support and partnerships.