Warm Hearts Warm Toes provides shoes, socks for students

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New shoes and socks recently were presented to Brownstown Central Middle School students who needed them.

Dean of Students Marty Young and guidance counselor Alicia McCrary both said they are fortunate for Becca Hattabaugh and her mother, Becky Wilson, for continuing to provide those necessities through the Warm Hearts Warm Toes project.

This year, 85 elementary and middle school students from Brownstown and Crothersville received new shoes and socks.

When he sees the students wearing them, Young said he will think of those who made it all possible.

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"It makes me think of the ladies here and what they are doing to help these kids," he said. "If they weren’t doing it, where would (the students) get their shoes at or what would they be wearing?"

Young said he has seen a couple of students wearing big, clunky boots three sizes too big and realizes those have to be uncomfortable. Now, they have another option.

"We try to give our kids a lot of rec time, too, and it just makes a difference," he said of having comfortable shoes. "I take it for granted. I switch shoes and do my activities, but they wear the same pair all day, so having these shoes, it’s just a lot of comfort."

McCrary also said there are a lot of kids who walk to school, so they need comfortable shoes, too.

"I think how awful that would be walking to school in shoes that don’t fit you," she said. "By the time they get here, they’ve got blisters or their feet hurt or their feet are wet."

A good pair of shoes builds the students’ self-confidence and gives them a sense of pride, Young said. The gift also is one less thing their parents have to buy.

"If they don’t have to get them shoes, they can maybe get them something a little different," he said.

Hattabaugh said when the students’ pride is up, that may help their academics, too.

Providing shoes and socks also shows them that someone cares, she said.

"I was talking to one of the teachers at the elementary school and she said, ‘I wish you could see the reactions from the children,’" she said. "We want it to be that way, but we just do it because we love doing it every year. It may be a seasonal thing, but if people are in need, then we want to make sure that they have it."

This was the eighth year of Warm Hearts Warm Toes. It started in 2012 when Hattabaugh was serving as a substitute teacher at Brownstown Elementary School and saw students wearing flip-flops in the winter.

She realized everyone needs warm shoes and socks, but because of the economy, it’s not always easy for parents to provide those necessities.

A gift tree was set up one year to provide toys for children at Christmas, but Hattabaugh knew they needed necessities, too.

That’s when she started Warm Hearts Warm Toes with the help of her family and some church members.

In the first year, the project provided shoes and socks for nearly 25 Brownstown students. The project also has helped Medora students in the past, and St. Ambrose Catholic Church provides shoes to some Seymour students.

In the eight years of the project, nearly 700 new pairs of shoes and socks have been distributed.

Each year, Hattabaugh works with school counselors and teachers to identify students who can benefit from Warm Hearts Warm Toes. She then collects donations so she and her mother can shop for the shoes and socks.

Most of the funding comes from St. Vincent de Paul Society, an international Catholic organization that helps less-fortunate people with a variety of services. This year, they also received funding from the Brownstown adult women’s volleyball team and The Peoples Bank.

Even though shoes and socks recently were distributed, Hattabaugh tells the schools to let her know if a student is in need any time of the year and she will fill it.

"We’re just appreciative that you guys are willing to do this, and it helps our students. I enjoy it. We get to see the reactions, and that’s fun for us," Young told Hattabaugh and Wilson.

"We just love doing it," Hattabaugh said.

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To contribute to the Warm Hearts Warm Toes project, contact Becca Hattabaugh at 812-528-0316.

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