. Chester students had a special delivery on Tuesday, October 6, when the Katie Grace Foundation of Reno, Nevada, arrived with two trailers filled with brand-new shoes, socks, T-shirts, and coats. Every student in the Chester schools had the opportunity to receive new shoes and other clothing during the shoe giveaway, coordinated and implemented by the Lake Almanor Community Foundation (LACF).
And while the trailers were packed with practical necessities, it was the smiles that made the biggest impression.
“This is about the kids,” said Kimberly Weingartner, founder and CEO of the Katie Grace Foundation. “We have found that giving each child a pair of shoes and several pairs of socks does more than provide something they need. It puts a smile on their face when they walk away in brand-new shoes. That’s why we do this.”
The Chester giveaway is part of the Katie Grace Foundation’s New Shoes on Every Foot campaign, which brings new shoes, socks and other necessities to children in different communities. The shoes — from Nikes to Converse to Vans and many more name brands – and other clothing items are donated to the Foundation for the purpose of this program.
For Weingartner, the mission is deeply personal. The Katie Grace Foundation was established following the tragic death of her 15-year-old daughter, Katie, who was killed while crossing a street with a friend. Katie had a special connection to the Lake Almanor Basin, where her family owned a home and created many cherished memories.
“After Katie died, I knew I wanted to do something in my daughter’s name so her love and kindness would be remembered,” Weingartner said. “We always said that to know Katie was to be loved by Katie, and that is the essence of the Foundation.” She fondly refers to the shoe giveaway as Katie’s Steps of Kindness since it is about providing a necessity for these kids and keeps the spirit of her daughter alive.
The connection between the Katie Grace Foundation and the Lake Almanor Community Foundation began several years ago when Weingartner and Katherine Sansone, chair of LACF, met at the yearly bandshell concerts held at Lake Almanor Country Club in 2019. “When the opportunity to collaborate on the New Shoes on Every Foot campaign came along, the LACF board knew it was an ideal fit for what we do — give back to the Lake Almanor Basin,” said Sansone. As much as the children walked away beaming, so did the LACF volunteers who assisted with measuring, choosing socks and finding the perfect pair of shoes.
For the students of Chester, the result was simple: new shoes, warm clothing and a memorable day, all delivered with a smile — exactly what Katie Grace would have wanted.
For more information on the Katie Grace Foundation, please visit https://www.ktgracefoundation.org/
