WATSONVILLE—The entire kindergarten class of Starlight Elementary School will be sporting new sneakers come the start of the New Year, thanks to the efforts of a high school student at Mountain View High School.
Bridget Stuebner said she learned of a previous shoe give-away from former MacQuiddy Elementary School principal Shelby Biddy when that school held a new sneaker giveaway for students.
“A group of kids from Los Altos heard about the story and instead of just purchasing 15 pairs of shoes, they were able to purchase a pair of shoes for every kindergartner at Starlight School,” Biddy said. “These kids went to huge amounts of effort, but I think it shows how each community needs to help.”
Stuebner said she and a host of fellow students held a bake sale to start raising funds. She also approached the National Charities League who came forward with a large check as well.
“It’s been a year in the making and it feels good to be out here today watching this happen, watching the happy kids go home with their new shoes,” Stuebner said.
Each shoe box was carefully wrapped in colorful paper and Mountain View High students took time to create and write homemade Christmas cards for each student.
On Saturday, parents and their students lined up in cars and on foot to file through the line of tables to fetch their new sneakers.
“It’s just nice to be more than a school,” said Principal Jackie Medina. “You can just feel the excitement; it’s so joyful to be a part of this. We have staff and volunteers out here making sure this happens.”
Blanca Herrera showed up with her child in a cab to pick up the shoes.
“He’s so happy,” she said. “This means so much.”
