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Great Start offering shoes to kids in need as school year starts

ALPENA — The Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Great Start Collaborative is beginning their back to school shoe program for students in need of shoes.

Covering Alpena, Montmorency and Alcona counties, the Great Start Collaborative will provide athletic shoes for students ages 3 to 12. To receive shoes, the collaborative asks families to register by contacting Parent Liaison Jami Whaley at 989-278-5998 or whaleyj@amaesd.org.

Last year, they handed out more than 150 pairs of shoes to students.

The collaborative does not verify household incomes, but requires registration so they can know children’s shoe sizes before officials purchase the shoes.

The shoes provided are athletic shoes to promote more physical activity and less screen time for kids, as encouraged by the 5-2-1-0 Health Initiative to get kids moving. That national program encourages kids to eat five or more fruits and vegetables each day, spend two hours or less on smartphone, television or computer screens, spend one or more hours each day on physical activity, and drink zero sugary drinks.

“Children need two hours of screen-free time a day and one hour of phsyical activity,” Whaley said. “Having the proper footwear encourages that one hour of physical activity.”

All shoes are paid for or donated by local businesses. Cliff Anschuetz Chevrolet has been their biggest contributor in recent years, officials said, supplying about 50 pairs of shoes as well as backpacks to kids in need.

ServiceMaster in Alpena is will also be donating to the cause this year.

The collaborative asks local businesses to donate funds or new shoes to provide enough for the registered families. The collaborative is offering three levels of sponsorship to businesses that donate. Depending on the donation level, the business could be mentioned in local media coverage or on social media.

The program runs through October to ensure each student in need receives a pair of shoes.

Families can contact Jami Whaley or stop at the AMA Great Start Collaborative located in the Pied Piper School located at 444 Wilson St. in Alpena.

Kaitlin Ryan can be reached at kryan@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 989-358-5693.

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