Thank you to West Covina Sunrise Rotary, who held their annual Shoes and Socks event, where they partner with Payless ShoeSource at the Plaza West Covina to provide students in need shoes and socks. On Wednesday, Dec. 10, Rotarians, Lions, high school Interact students and other community members who want to volunteer greeted 100 students from Yorbita Elementary and helped them choose any pair of shoes they wanted. A huge thank you goes to RUSD School Police Chief Don Fernald for all of his efforts in helping coordinating the event for many years. “This event was started to give children who need shoes and socks a gift at Christmastime, so that they can feel comfortable, have warm feet and enjoy school a little bit better,” said Fernald.
“This Payless is absolutely phenomenal – we don’t go anywhere else. We work with the corporate office and we average helping 150 kids each year, but this year we are helping 200 kids – 100 students from Yorbita Elementary and 100 from Monte Vista Elementary in West Covina Unified,” said Lu Arredondo, President of West Covina Sunrise Rotary for the past two years. “We try to everything we can to connect with them, so that we can give them a glimmer of who we are and tell them our story and create a bond. I tell them about Rotary and let them know that anywhere you are in the world – next week or 20 years from now, if you are ever in trouble you find a Rotary Club and they will help you. Beyond today, they are creating a friend for life.”
Pictured: Happy student with new shoes! Students show off their “Frozen” boots and new backpacks to Dr. Mitchell. Thanks to the Plaza West Covina, this year students also received backpacks filled with school supplies.