At Johnson High School, there is an office filled with boxes.
Those boxes are full of shoes, hoodies, sweatpants and more shoes.
Those boxes line a path to the desk of Ruby Morris.
Morris is one of our District’s Family Engagement Liaisons. Our Family Engagement Liaisons and Family Specialists work together to help our students and families connect with resources they need, like parent education classes, food and other basic needs.
That growing wall of shoe-filled boxes in Morris’ office was recently delivered by Champs Sports District managers. The managers delivered more than 300 pairs of shoes and clothing to our District to help students with basic clothing needs.
“I love this partnership,” said Morris. “Our kids cannot learn if their basic needs aren’t met. So that is where we come in. I get to connect families with resources they need, and this is just one of the ways we can help our families.”
This growing partnership started about a year ago when a teacher asked District Manager Jim Murto if he could provide shoes for a student in need. Not only did he provide shoes for that student, but Murto and Champs Sports donated more than 1,500 pieces of clothing for other students who may be in need.
“Helping the community is one of our company’s core values,” said Murto. “What a perfect way to help by providing some much-needed apparel to these kids. If our clothes can help them feel better about themselves—that’s all the more reason to help.”
These donations have helped students across our District with clothing and shoes so they can concentrate on learning and not worry about whether they will have shoes to wear to school.
Thank you, Champs Sports, for making a real difference in our community #theNEISDway.
Learn more about how our Family Liaisons and Family Specialists help our students.