The Shoe Fairy raises funds for children in need

Intermountain Catholic

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Eric Lindquist helps his son drop coins into the Shoe Fairy collection container. Eric wanted to help other children get a new pair of shoes. The original pair of shoes that inspired the Shoe Fairy program are displayed in the upper right-hand corner. Twenty-five percent of the sale of the 22 inch bronze statue (right) will be donated to the Shoe Fairy. It was inspired by a CEO in Utah who as a young adult was on the street in tattered shoes.IC photos by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — Majid Omana, owner of Evergreen Framing Company & Gallery, Inc., hosted his first shoe show, "If the Shoe Fits," to raise funds for the Shoe Fairy Sept. 21.

Guests strolled the gallery through art with sole including painted shoes and boots of all kinds, chocolate shoes, shoe cookies, and cards of shoes. Twenty percent of the proceeds from the evening’s sales were given to the Shoe Fairy.

Wendy Olsen became the Shoe Fairy in 2002 when a little boy in her daughter’s first grade class at Orem Elementary School wore a pair of worn out, torn, and duct-taped shoes to school on a cold and snowy February morning. The boy stayed in the classroom during recess because he did not want to go outside.

After learning the boy’s family could not afford to buy shoes, Olsen and her daughter decided to buy him some new shoes.

"We took the new shoes to school and told him they were from the Shoe Fairy, and if they fit him, he could have them," said Olsen. "He tried them on and they fit. He was so happy he asked, ‘Can I really have them?’"

Olsen’s goal is to make sure no matter the circumstances, children in elementary schools throughout Utah have a good pair of shoes. Olsen takes 100 percent of the donations she receives to buy $15 gift cards from Payless Shoe Source. This way the students and their parents can pick out the shoes they want. Olsen works with teachers to have them notify her when it looks as if a child is in need.

Linda Burnside of the Jordan School District JSIT (Jordan Student Intervention Team) an outreach program, said when they see a student in need, they notify Olsen and she will give them shoe vouchers without question. If the shoes only cost $10 they are able to buy $5 worth of socks. Between Aug. 27, when school started and Sept. 20, Burnside has requested 50 shoe vouchers. The vouchers go fast because they are so needed, and shoes are so expensive.

"It is embarrassing for children to have to wear shoes that are worn out and taped together," said Burnside.

Omana heard Olsen speak on public radio and after listening to her talk about the Shoe Fairy program and thinking about how important shoes are to children, he knew he wanted to help. It is nice that parents and children are able to pick out the shoes themselves and so they can choose something that reflects them and their own individuality. It gives them ownership to be able to go to the store and buy the shoes themselves.

Omana thought art with sole would be a great theme for a show, and a way to help a good cause. He said all of the artists were completely enthusiastic about participating. After word spread about the shoe show, Omana had to turn artists away who wanted to help. Omana said the shoe show for donations to the Shoe Fairy will become an annual event.

For more information, visit The Shoe Fairy.org.