Project 680 Shoe Drive Provides Shoes for Hundreds of Local Homeless Students
Perhaps I shouldn’t be, but I’m always surprised at the generosity of people. The evening news touts the troubles in the economy, failures in local businesses, families that have lost their homes, and food banks that are struggling to meet the increasing demand. Not often enough do we hear of a community coming together to support each other.
Project 680, a grassroots organization aimed at bettering the lives of the many homeless students in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District, spearheaded a cause and raised thousands of dollars that will be given in gift cards to homeless students good for the purchase of new shoes. With an original goal of $1500, the founders of Project 680 had faith that the community would support the shoe drive as they have supported the previous goals of the group. The grand total of monies collected is $3,601. 51.
Payless Shoe Source, located off of Zinfandel (by Walmart), is offering the student recipients of the gift cards the by one get one half off special. The students will be able to pick out a brand new pair of shoes just in time for the chilly winter weather. Between 150 and 200 local homeless students will be able to go shoe shopping, many for the first time in years, because of our generous community.
The Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce also played a major part in the fund raising for Payless gift cards. In a recent golf tournament, the Chamber of Commerce raised and additional $1000 that has been donated as well.
Ryan Lundquist, the creator of Project 680, quoted Mother Theresa during the small ceremony when the checks were given to Payless on Thursday morning. “We can do no great things, only small things with great love”.
I’m proud to be a part of a community that is so ready and willing to share their great love.
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Posted by Michelle Ventress
on Nov 12 2009. Filed under News.
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This is such a wonderful project, and story of generosity in our community. It is true, that in times of hardship people and communities truly see what they’re made of. I am so proud to be a member of this community!
Way to go everyone on pulling together for a great cause. So many people and organizations pitched in to make this effort successful. Please see our website at http://www.project680.org for a list of thank-yous.
So, how many pairs of shoes do you think this buys? Really a great effort by all involved.
Somewhere around 180 pairs most likely. The average pair should run around $20 in light of the vendor’s “buy one pair, get the second 1/2 off” and also not having to pay sales tax on the shoes.
This is Deivid, store manager of the Payless store in rancho. We would like to thank you for using us for part of your vision. Great pictures as well, sent them out to corp. And ill be taking pictures of the even this coming up tuesday. If you would like some let me know. thanks again!
I would like to thank Deivid and the staff at the Payless Shoe Source for their wonderful cooperation in making the shoe event a success. Deivid and the staff were so generous, and their assistance made so many families happy an provided smiling children with much-needed shoes and they left with big smiles and sometimes even wearing their new shoes. And many thanks too to the Learning Express staff for all their hard work setting up this event. Keep up the good work. Kudos!