Annual Labor Day back-to-school shoe giveaway at 2 sites
9/2/2016, 3:54 p.m.
For the first time, two churches will serve as host sites for the annual “New Shoes for Back-to-School” giveaway on Labor Day.
Third Street Bethel A.M.E. Church, which originated the giveaway 11 years ago, is returning as a host site at its sanctu- ary, 614 N. 3rd St. in Jackson Ward.
Shoes also will be distributed at Second Baptist Church of South Richmond, which has hosted the event in recent years at its sanctuary, 3300 Broad Rock Blvd.
Doors will open at both sites at 8 a.m. and close around 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5, according to organizers. Dozens of volunteers will staff the two sites and assist families in finding shoes.
Fifteen other churches also are taking part in the event that is expected to provide more than 4,000 pairs of shoes to Richmond area students who will start school Tuesday, Sept. 6.
The other churches are: Branch’s Baptist, Broad Rock Baptist, Centenary United Methodist, Ebenezer Baptist, Fifth Baptist, First Baptist-Midlothian, Lyndale Baptist, Moore Street
Missionary Baptist, Oak Forest Baptist, Sharon Baptist, Sixth Baptist, Sixth Mount Zion Baptist, St. James Baptist, Temple of God International Ministries and Tomahawk Baptist.
Area businesses also are participating, including Biz- port Ltd., Marshalls, Saxon Shoes, Target and Walmart, organizers said.
Information: The Rev. Ralph Hodge, (804) 304-3409; Sec- ond Baptist’s office, (804) 232-5124; or Third Street Bethel’s office, (804) 643-8157.
