Shreveport kids get new shoes to walk into the new school year

Henrietta Wildsmith, Shreveport Times
·1 min read

When Erica Clark saw the white sneakers with unicorns on the side that lite up at the Walmart on Pines Rd., she grabbed them and ran to her mother, "how about these?" she asked. Mylekia Clark took the shoes and looked them over, not long after her other daughter grabbed the same pair in her size, and the girls tried them on in the aisle.

They were amongst hundreds others  there for the 18th annual Back to School Shoe Giveaway sponsored by Barbara Norton's African American Celebration Parade Committee. "It's a break with everything going on, with clothes and school supplies its a lot, every dime counts, " said Clark.

Erica Clark shows her mother, Mylekia Clark, the shoes she wants during the African American Celebration Parade Committee 18th annual Back to School Shoe Giveaway Saturday afternoon, July 30, 2022, at the Walmart on Pines Road.
Erica Clark shows her mother, Mylekia Clark, the shoes she wants during the African American Celebration Parade Committee 18th annual Back to School Shoe Giveaway Saturday afternoon, July 30, 2022, at the Walmart on Pines Road.

For Norton its a chance to tell the community that there are people out there who care about them. "When I look at our children who are going back to school with holes in the bottom of their shoes, I wonder where education is at that moment. I feel it is lost because they are not thinking about it at that moment, they are thinking about not having the proper shoes and their self esteem is down".

Norton wants to reach out, show them that there is a community that cares, "I know when they go to school there will be smiles on their faces".

Clark knows that having a new pair of shoes means a lot to a child. "Everyone wants their first day of school to be their best day. They just can't wait to show off their new shoes".

Barbara Norton at the African American Celebration Parade Committee 18th annual Back to School Shoe Giveaway Saturday afternoon, July 30, 2022, at the Walmart on Pines Road.
Barbara Norton at the African American Celebration Parade Committee 18th annual Back to School Shoe Giveaway Saturday afternoon, July 30, 2022, at the Walmart on Pines Road.

Henrietta Wildsmith is a photojournalist for the Shreveport Times, part of the USA Today Network. Reach her at hwildsmith@gannett.com, Facebook or Instagram at @hanketta. 

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Hundreds of local kids get new shoes to walk into the new school year