According to Greg Walker, representative for United Bank (UB), for the third year, the bank is serving as a drop-off location for shoes and donations for Shoes That Fit. Walker said Shoes That Fit is a non-profit organization providing shoes and other items of need to local students so they can focus on their studies rather than their circumstances. Similar to a holiday angel tree project, organizers with Shoes That Fit begin by identifying needy students in local schools. Donors can choose a student by visiting a United Bank branch or other OnMedia 2014 partners according to Walker. After purchasing new shoes for the student, donors will return the items to the original location, Walker said. Each week OnMedia representatives will pick up and deliver the shoes. For 2014, financial donations will also be collected at partner sites, Walker said, for donors who would rather not handle the shoes directly but still wish to give. The campaign is open now and will end Monday, Dec. 5.
UB’s advertising partner OnMedia, Walker said, invited UB to be a drop-off point for the program. “As long as OnMedia will do it, we’ll be a drop-off spot. We’re a hometown community bank. It’s part of our vision to serve the community.”
United Bank, Walker said, is involved in several community service projects. The regular canned food drive, he said, will take place closer to Christmas this year. UB was also involved in this year’s Back to School Bash, Walker said. The bank also has two programs geared toward teaching important financial lessons according to Walker. Teach Children to Save, a 4th grade program, Walker said, at a young age stresses the importance of saving money, Walker said. He also said Get Smart about Credit, an 11th and 12th grade program, teaches high school students all about credit and what affects credit.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: United Bank collects shoes for students without