San Bernardino City Unified School District honors nonprofit Shoes That Fit for its contributions to students
Shoes That Fit, a Claremont-based nonprofit, received the San Bernardino City Unified School District's Outstanding Community Partner Award this spring.
Shoes That Fit has made an impact in the San Bernardino community by providing thousands of new shoes to students, including a May 23 donation of 1,431 pairs of brand-name sneakers to students at San Bernardino High School, the nonprofit's largest donation to date, according to a news release.
"By addressing a basic need, Shoes That Fit allows our students to focus on their education without the distraction of discomfort or insecurity," Mauricio Arellano, superintendent of the San Bernardino City Unified School District, said in the news release. "Their generosity exemplifies the kind of community spirit that helps our students shine."
During the 2023-24 school year, Shoes That Fit donated new shoes to students at the San Bernardino district's Bing Wong Elementary School, Jones Elementary School and Richardson PREP HI Middle School, in addition to the donation at San Bernardino High School.
"One in three children in America lives in a low-income or impoverished family," Julie Stevens, chief of staff for Shoes That Fit, said in the news release. "Shoes That Fit's mission is to tackle one of the most visible signs of poverty in America by giving the children new, high-quality, brand-name athletic shoes so that they can have dignity and joy when they attend school, prepared to learn, play and thrive."
For San Bernardino High School student Camila Sanchez, receiving a new pair of shoes in May meant she could save even more money for her freshman year at Cal Poly Pomona.
"Getting this pair of shoes may not seem like much, but I have a sister who also goes here and for both of us to get new shoes, that's really going to help my mom," Sanchez said at the Shoes That Fit donation event in May, according to the news release. "I'm so happy that people care and want to help our school."
The Outstanding Community Partner Award is given monthly to organizations that have made a substantial difference in the lives of San Bernardino City Unified School District students and families.
