Services

First Day Shoe Fund distributes brand new athletic shoes through several different events each summer and fall. We hold a large distribution event during the Kalamazoo Public School’s (KPS) summer school session and host a KPS Community Night summer event for qualifying families who do not attend summer school. During the first two months of each new school year, we distribute shoes to qualifying families in all Kalamazoo Public Elementary Schools, as well as all Comstock Public Elementary Schools and Paramount Academy. Throughout the entire school year, we work with the staff at KRESA’s WoodsEdge Learning Center to fit qualifying students of all ages with shoes. First Day Shoe Fund continues to help students in need throughout the school year whenever possible.

    • Since our founding in 2006, First Day Shoe Fund has distributed approximately 28,677 shoes to students in Kalamazoo County.
    • In 2017, we distributed a record 4,687 pairs of shoes to Kalamazoo Public Schools, Comstock Public Schools, Vicksburg, Paramount Charter Academy and WoodsEdge Learning Center. In 2018 First Day Shoe Fund will distribute shoes to Portage Public Schools students for the first time in our history through a new partnership with Haverhill Elementary.
    • On average, 70% or more of the students enrolled in the schools we currently serve, qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.

Students attending the following elementary schools will receive sign up forms during the first week of school in September. Families should return these forms complete with student name and desired shoe size and gender. Shoes will be delivered a few weeks later to the child’s classroom:

Comstock Public Schools (K – 5)

Green Meadow

North

STEM

Kalamazoo Public Schools (PEEP – 5)

Arcadia

Edison

El Sol

Greenwood

Indian Prairie

Lincoln

King-Westwood

Milwood

Northeastern

Northglade

Parkwood Upjohn

Prairie Ridge

Spring Valley

Washington

Winchell

KRESA

WoodsEdge Learning Center

Paramount Charter Academy

Portage Public Schools

Haverhill

Please contact FirstDayShoeFund@gmail.com or 269-271-5527 with any questions. Thank you!