Main Street Financial Group sponsored a shoe distribution for Polk County children in need on March 1.

Main Street Financial Group first partnered with the non-profit “Samaritan’s Feet” last year for an event in Rutherford County.

This year, 77 area children, ages 6 months to 17 years, received new shoes and socks by attending the Polk County event.   About 50 more are expected to be served by direct distribution through the schools.

As children arrived, they were registered, then greeted and taken to a station where warm, sudsy water awaited. A volunteer washed their feet and dried them, then slipped on a pair of soft, white socks.Other volunteers went to the shoe “store” to pick out shoes.  Sometimes it took several attempts to find the pair that fit just right.

Then there were those who worked behind the scenes, to man the shoe “store,” fill basins with water and to clean and sanitize supplies after each child.

It was a collaboration of many, including Samaritan’s Feet, Main Street Financial Group, Polk County Schools, Polk County Red Cross and the Polk County High School Key club.

The real stars of the day though were the children, who with great enthusiasm and joy gave each volunteer the chance to be humbled by the experience.

– article submitted 

by Robin Dixon