Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy students walked, ran, skipped, and jumped home in some shoes on Tuesday thanks to the generosity of Operation Warm and FedEx.
A team of volunteers descended upon the Wilkins gymnasium Tuesday morning from FedEx Cares and Operation Warm to outfit each student with a free pair of specially designed sneakers. Students went through a thorough process to make sure their new shoes fit properly. They placed their foot on a mat to determine an initial size, chose their preferred color or design, had their laces tied just right, and then took them for a quick test. If the fit wasn’t perfect, they tried a different size to be sure.
Wilkins Elementary social worker Ms. Danielle Zurisko contacted Operation Warm earlier this school year following a positive experience with the national nonprofit a few years ago. At that time, Operation Warm generously donated new winter coats to students. Ms. Zurisko reached back out to Operation Warm again to see, and this time they offered to outfit the entire student body in new shoes and socks.
Proper fitting shoes can be expensive, especially for rapidly growing elementary students. Some families may not be able to purchase the right shoes for their children. Operation Warm’s donation will ensure that Wilkins students will have at least one pair of sneakers that fits them just right.
Wilkins Elementary and the Woodland Hills School District would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to Operation Warm and the FedEx Cares volunteers for this generous donation.