Community Partners Bring New Shoes, Healthy Snacks to Students

Students at two MNPS magnet elementary schools enjoyed new shoes and healthy snacks this week, thanks to the generous support of committed community partners and the schools’ strong relationships with them. 

At Glenview Elementary, nonprofit Shoes That Fit and volunteers from fashion retailer Nordstrom brought a new pair of athletic shoes to each of the nearly 600 students Tuesday morning, a few weeks after they had visited to measure every child’s shoe size.  

As a DJ kept the gym bouncing with upbeat pop hits, happy students filed in throughout the day to sit across from the volunteers and try on their new kicks, which they could accessorize with charms on display at a nearby table.  

Shoes That Fit has partnered with Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack to provide new athletic shoes to more than 430,000 students across the United States since 2010.  

“The excitement on our students’ faces as they entered the gym was absolutely priceless,” said Mollie Crockett, MSAP site coordinator at Glenview. “This event gave our students the opportunity to feel confident and proud to come to school.  

“It was heartwarming to see students showing off their new shoes and the charms they chose to personalize them. We are so grateful to Shoes That Fit and Nordstrom for their generosity and for reminding our students that they are valued each and every day.” 

At the same time on Tuesday, Walmart and Southern Valley, a family-owned produce supplier with a farming operation in East Tennessee, were bringing cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, squash, dips, and dressings to students at Cumberland Elementary. 

Representatives from the two businesses led a hands-on demonstration in the cafeteria about healthy snacks and talked about how produce is grown, harvested, and distributed to Walmart shelves.  

Students also received school supplies and other items from Walmart and Southern Valley. 

“We appreciate the opportunity to work with Walmart and Southern Valley to bring classroom lessons to life for our students,” said Chriseni Pulse, MSAP curriculum specialist at Cumberland. “Our kindergartners are studying farms and food along with growing a school garden outside our cafeteria, so this event is a great way for our students to better understand where their food comes from.”