Willow Glen Resident

Education

Photograph by Cera Renault

Rachel Weed of Willow Glen was required to complete a senior service project prior to graduation at Notre Dame High School. She decided to raise money to purchase Payless Shoes gift cards for low-income families who rely on assistance from Sacred Heart Community Services.

Teen's project helps youths buy new shoes for school

By Emilie Crofton

Shoe shopping is often on the back-to-school student wish list, but some families can't afford new footwear. One Willow Glen teenager decided to change that equation.

Sixteen-year-old Rachel Weed raised enough money to buy 400 pairs of shoes.

Rachel teamed up with Sacred Heart Community Services annual Pack-A-Back drive to give away 400 Payless Shoe Source gift certificates to low-income students about to start school.

For the past three years, Sacred Heart Community Service has held an annual drive, giving backpacks filled with new school supplies to low-income students. This year a $10 gift certificate to buy new shoes was included, thanks to Rachel.

"Shopping for new shoes was always my favorite part of back-to-school shopping," said Rachel, who will be a senior at Notre Dame High School. "It's unfortunate that not everyone has that experience."

In order to graduate, the school requires every student to create a project that aids the community. Rachel had been volunteering at Sacred Heart Community Service since the age of 7 and she said it seemed natural that her project would involve the community outreach facility.

"With her project, Rachel gave the children opportunities that they would not normally have," said Jean Cohen, director of communications and development for Sacred Heart. "Buying new shoes is an extra that the families just can't afford."

To raise money for the gift cards, Rachel sent out letters to friends, family and community members. Although it took a few months for money to come in, she surpassed her initial $3,000 goal.

Rachel said a number of low-income children rely on shoe donations. Most are second-hand and do not always fit properly. It was important to Rachel to offer gift cards so the children would have shoes they could choose themselves and that fit well.

"Having shoes that actually fit ensures safety," Rachel said. "Giving children who may not normally be able to choose their own things, or have something to call their own in general, is a true gift."

The idea for her project was inspired after her family adopted a family from Mexico and went to visit them. Rachel said a trip with the children to a shoe store left an imprint she never forgot, and which led to her project idea.

"At the store the children didn't realize that they could pick out their own shoes and have shoes that actually fit," Rachel said. "[Shopping for shoes] is something that seems so trivial to you or me but is so important."

Rachel wanted to make sure local children in San Jose didn't have to go through that. She says wearing a pair of new shoes gave the students confidence.

"My project's goal is to not only allow these children to learn and play better with sturdy, well fitted shoes, but to give these children a sense of independence, confidence and normalcy in a world that may rob them of this," Rachel said.

In her 10 years of volunteering with Sacred Heart, Rachel worked in the pantry delivering food and with children at academic day and summer camps, tutoring first- and second-graders on a weekly basis.

"I've really got to know some of the children, so it's great to be giving back to them," Rachel said.

Sacred Heart Community Service is an organization whose goal is to end poverty by providing essential services and tools for self-sufficiency.

"Rachel exemplifies the qualities and leadership of volunteers," Cohen said. "Here we have the ability to provide basic needs, but she wanted to make it better and more exciting."

The Pack-A-Back drive gave 1,500 backpacks to more than 700 families.

Rachel is already talking about raising money for shoes in next year's drive.

"I'm only 16, but I can still make a difference," she said.

For more information on volunteering and donating, visit www. sacredheartcommunityservice.org. To contribute to the Pack-a-Back Program, call 408-278-2179.