National day helps bring awareness to western North Carolina
As “Shoe the World” National Shoe Day is celebrated tomorrow, over 500 million children, teenagers and adults do not own a single pair of shoes.
Many walk barefoot, despite the terrain and climate.
They have no protection on their feet. Life without footwear affects everything from health and education to financial well-being.
The same problem exists in western North Carolina. It is hard to imagine for most, who can simply look into their closets and have a hard time trying to decide which pair of shoes to wear each day. But if the focus is shifted to one population of need – children – we can make a difference in our own neck of the woods.
In 1991, Murphy’s Betsy Lane heard a segment on National Public Radio about getting new shoes for kids in need. She was so moved that she started collecting donations for the children of Cherokee County Schools to provide shoes for each student in need.
She asked family, friends and customers of her insurance company to donate to the fund and deliver the money to the Cherokee Board of Education.
Upon Lane’s retirement in 2011, Steven Aft, her son-in-law, continued the collections for the Cherokee County Shoe Fund. The fund continued to grow.
Before COVID, the balance had reached over $10,000.
To continue the project, in 2022, Thomas McMahon – a client of Aft’s and an employee of Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino and Hotel – reached out to his employer and discovered that the shoe fund fell under the HERO-(Harrah’s Employees Reaching Out) program. Jodie Kozma, the Cherokee Valley River HERO chairman went to upper management with a donation proposal, and it was approved.
This past year, Harrah’s contributed $21,076.50 and added $11,076.50 from ticket redemptions, and Harrah’s matched the fund with $10,000.
The program has been so successful in Cherokee County, that Marketing Director of Steven Aft Insurance Marketing Director Mary Jo Dare wanted to expand the project. She reached out to Graham County Superintendent Angie Knight.
Knight was pleased to accept the offer for Graham County students.
“We hope this effort on our part shows you how dedicated we are to seeing the Graham County Shoe Fund get started in a strong way,” Dyre said.
The fund is an easily-maintained, sustainable program that is 100 percent positive for all who get involved.
Money has been approved by Harrah’s Valley River Casino’s HERO project to jumpstart the Graham County Shoe Fund.
“The program has benefited an overwhelming number of students over the years that would otherwise not have access to these essential needs, and we continue to be grateful to our community partners for their support,” said Cherokee County Schools Chief Financial Officer Stephanie Hass.
“I choose to be the voice of the innocent by empowering our community to support those in need-those who cannot control their circumstances, yet they rise up by persevering through life’s trials, tribulations, and tragedies,” Aft said.
“Living a life of significance fulfills me and inspires others.”
If you are interested in making a donation to the program, you may send contributions to:
Graham County Shoe Fund
c/o Mary Jo Dyre
P.O. Box 279
Murphy, NC 28906