A new pair of shoes can change how a child feels about walking into school. Through the Equal Footing Shoe Fund, United Way of Central West Virginia and Pioneer AFCU are working together to provide brand-new sneakers to students who need them most—right here in our communities.
How You Can Help
There are two simple ways you can help a child step forward with confidence:
- Donate New Sneakers
Sizes 12Y through 12 Adult are most needed. Drop off new sneakers (and new socks, if you’d like) at any Pioneer AFCU branch. - Give Instantly by Text
Text 4SHOES (the number 4, S-H-O-E-S) to 41444. Your gift goes into a Shoe Fund bucket used only to purchase new shoes for local students.
Every pair—and every dollar—helps a child feel seen, supported, and ready to learn.
Meet Kerri "The Shoe Fairy"
Kerri Cooper is the Community Impact Director at United Way of Central West Virginia, but her favorite title is “Kerri the Shoe Fairy.” When a teacher or counselor notices a child in need, they quietly send Kerri a gender and shoe size. No forms, no questions. By that afternoon—or first thing the next morning—that student receives a brand-new pair of sneakers.
It’s about more than shoes. It’s about dignity, comfort, and the feeling that someone cares.
Why New Shoes Matter
A lot of the students Kerri helps have never had a new pair of shoes of their own. After lacing up their new sneakers, some say things like:
- “I’m running on clouds now.”
- “I’ve never had new shoes.”
A simple pair of sneakers can:
- Boost a child’s confidence and sense of belonging,
- Help them feel more comfortable in the classroom and on the playground,
- Let them focus on learning instead of worrying about what they’re wearing.
Who the Equal Footing Shoe Fund Serves
The Equal Footing Shoe Fund supports students in six West Virginia counties: Boone, Braxton, Clay, Kanawha, Putnam, and Logan.
When school staff see a need, they reach out directly to United Way. The response is quick, quiet, and focused on preserving each child’s dignity.