4EveryKid close to home...

?

Last week, I was able to meet Dr. Flury Wilson with Clarendon County School District in Manning, South Carolina. She heads up programming to serve students experiencing homelessness and is passionate about serving her students and families in meaningful ways.?

In Clarendon County, 19.5% of people live below the poverty line. It’s a part of the I-95 Corridor, a 17-county area in South Carolina known for its high unemployment and educational challenges. The per capita income in Clarendon County is around $23K.

It’s also my hometown and where I graduated from.

?

I walked into the district office (formerly Manning Primary School) and down the hallway to Dr. Wilson’s office, which ironically was my first-grade classroom (Mrs. Moss was my teacher). We talked about the school district, her dreams and hopes for serving students, and what Soles4Souls is doing nationwide to serve students facing homelessness through 4EveryKid. We toured her newly formed resource closet, which had 2 small rows of used shoes (that’s changing VERY soon), some canned and nonperishable goods, gently worn clothes and a package of new children’s underwear. She’s working hard to provide resources discreetly to families in need, which is hard to do in a small town.? Everyone knows everyone, so it is sometimes difficult for families to say, “I need help”, because then everyone knows.? It’s not a good feeling, for the parent or for the child, for people to know you are in need.

Dr. Wilson is planning on a Holiday event where families can come pick out shoes for their kiddos, so they can wrap them up for Christmas and give them to their children instead of having to go and request help.? Something that will bring joy to the child and dignity to the parents.?

It was beautifully surreal to sit in my childhood classroom last week. First grade was one of my favorites and Mrs. Moss was so loving and compassionate to me, even beyond my year with her.? She was one of my favorite teachers.? I sat there in my first-grade classroom with another loving, compassionate woman who feels that her work with families is a ministry.? Very fitting.

I believe connecting our roots with our work is very important.? Over the next year, it is our goal at Soles4Souls to have 4EveryKid partnerships in the hometowns or current cities of all our US team members, so they can feel even closer to the transformative work we are doing.? Meaningful work right in our backyards, even sometimes in our former classrooms.?

I graduated in 1994 from the school my grandmother helped build.? She was “good trouble” and lobbied locally to pass funding for Manning High School.? She was passionate about politics. One of my memories of her is being at the Polling Station with her for the elections.? She was a mother of 6, she had her GED and was a school resource teacher.? She never got to see the school she helped build; she went home to be with Jesus in her early 40’s from cancer.? She helped babies reach their full potential and then some.? I wish I could talk with her about my work with Soles4Souls.? Sometimes I actually do.?

We all have a reason for the work we do.? She’s one of mine.? The other is the chubby, awkward, middle school girl in rural SC who just wanted to have cool shoes and clothes and felt so left out because she didn’t.? She ‘s still a work in progress…to be determined.

?

With love…4…every…kid,

TT

?*For more information about 4EveryKid and how to support, please visit https://soles4souls.org/4EVERYKID/

?

?