TL Photo/GAGE VOTA Members of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Clairsville volunteer to donate school shoes to needy children. Pictured from left: Jeanne Sayre, Barbara Samples and Sandy Marshall.
ST. CLAIRSVILLE – First Presbyterian Church helped area children start the school year off on their best foot with the annual school shoe giveaway on Thursday.
The event was aimed at students of the St. Clairsville-Richland City School District.
“We are always happy to receive donations,” said wardrobe coordinator Darcy Porterfield.
To receive the free shoes, students had to meet a few requirements. They had to be accompanied by an adult, had to be present during the fitting and were limited to one pair of shoes per child while supplies lasted.
For all those who were unable to attend the shoe raffle, there will be another one on August 15th from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
“First Presbyterian has a shoe raffle the first three Thursdays in August. They’re one of our council churches, and this is their little thing.” Kathi Hinckley-Vaughn, director of the St. Clairsville Council of Churches food bank, said: “Calvary Presbyterian Church has a small children’s closet that contains diapers, children’s clothing, shoes and sometimes furniture such as cribs and the like.”
The St. Clairsville Council of Churches Food Pantry is a coalition of churches in the St. Clairsville area that includes St. Mary Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, East Richland Evangelical Friends Church, Calvary Presbyterian Church, Thoburn United Methodist Church, and the Church of Christ.
The food distribution center is open every Thursday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and on the first Thursday of the month the distribution center is also open from 5 p.m. until the last person has left.
“On the first Thursdays we don’t have a set end time. Most people are here by 5pm and we bring them in, and when everyone is taken care of, we’re done,” said Hinckley-Vaughn. “Most of our clients are either retired or fall into the low-income employment category, meaning they are just one paycheck away from homelessness.”
In addition to shoes, the First Presbyterian Church will also be giving out coats weekly starting in October.
“We also accept coat donations. We accept used coats in good condition and give them to people of all ages. We prefer washable coats, not like fur or leather jackets, but something that can be washed and is practical.” said Porterfield.
She added that the church will distribute coats to those in need every Thursday from 12pm to 3pm from October to December.
“We are open at the same times as the food distribution,” she said. “We coordinate with them.”
The First Presbyterian Church shoe and coat distribution, the Calvary Presbyterian Church children’s closet, and the food distribution have all coordinated their schedules to offer their services at the same time on the same day to better serve the congregation.
“We all belong to different churches and religions, but we all have one common goal: to serve the community of St. Clairsville,” said Joyce Thompson, food bank volunteer.
Thompson has been volunteering at the food bank for two years and believes the council’s services are vital to those in need.
“For example, we just served someone who came for the first time today. He said he was really hesitant to come because he didn’t want to take what other people needed. He said his pantries were empty and if he didn’t come today, he wouldn’t have anything to eat tomorrow.” Thompson added, “We are a no-shame ministry full of lovely people, and it’s really incredible that we can do this for our people here in St. Clairsville.
“I’m just happy to be able to give something to the people who need it,” she added.
Hinckley-Vaughn said the food bank is currently looking for a new co-director to help them continue to serve residents in need.
