ALTON, IL ( KPLR )—
There's a program in greater Alton, Illinois, that tugs at the heart of the man who runs it. He says it gives him a wonderful feeling as Christmas approaches. It's a simple program and it gets kids into good shoes. Ford Green is the Shoe Man. All of that takes volunteers and money. The Shoe Man is always on the lookout for both.He remains the moving force behind one of Alton's most valued charitable efforts. It started with two linemen who noticed two kids walking below their telephone polls and came down to buy them shoes.
The Shoe Man, 78, retired from Illinois Bell and became a member of the Pioneers Group. They were running a program getting shoes to needy elementary school children. Ford keeps it going these days with the help of family members, like his daughter, Lisa Huber of Brighton, Illinois. Over the years, the need has expanded, says Lisa, "High school and junior high kids, the nurse will call us because they don't have shoes to go to gym classes."
The program promptly moved to include socks, after Lisa heard this story, "This year one boy said, 'I don't have socks today because my brother's wearing them.'"
Through private donations, they'll spend more than $10,000 this year on 500 kids in 22 elementary schools. The bad economy may cause them to reach a new high.
The program is called "All God's Children All Have Shoes."
The shoes are purchased at the Alton Payless Store which gives them a 10 percent discount and half-off on a second pair.
For donations to the Shoe Man, e-mail his daughter at lisahuber@sbcglobal.net.
