This December, associates from the QCD – Suffolk GSFF committee hosted four events at local schools to deliver new pairs of shoes, socks, warm coats and hats and gloves to local elementary school children in need.
More than 200 pairs of shoes and socks, 96 coats and 96 sets of hats and gloves were provided to more than 200 children from the following area schools: P.W. Moore Elementary, Elizabeth City, NC (12/10); Hillpoint Elementary, Suffolk, Va. (12/16); S.P. Morton Elementary, Franklin, Va. (12/17); and Elephant’s Fork Elementary, Suffolk, Va. (12/18).
The new pairs of shoes and coats are distributed through GSFF’s Best Foot Forward and Coats for Kids programs. The shoes that are given are preselected to ensure they fit the recipients, and matched with a pair of socks and wrapped as a holiday gift for the children to open. In some cases, this may be the only gift the recipient will open this year. The sets of hats and gloves are collected throughout the year at various fundraising events held by QCD – Suffolk associates, including its Meals for Mittens event which took place in March.
“Winter is an especially difficult season for families experiencing financial hardship,” said Jerry Wilson [Operations Manager]. “Without the generous donations of our associates and partners through these programs, these children would not have the means to purchase much-needed items to help them stay warm and participate in school-based physical education programs and extracurricular activities. Our goal for 2014 is to spread our reach into more of the areas where our associates live and work so that we can further support children and families in need.”
Special thanks to Natasha Baird [Operations Clerk], Darlene Wilson, [National Support Services Manager], Jerry Wilson [Operations Manager] and Danny Register [Transportation Manager] for organizing this very successful event!