The Kicks For Kids shoe drive has kept up its momentum all week, even though the official last day was Tuesday, August 18th. The Windermere Mercer Island office endeavored to bring this shoe drive back for an even stronger second year, and together with you we have been successful. As of this morning we’re up to 327 pairs of shoes donated, which eclipsed our original goal of 300! Payless Shoe Source gift cards poured in, as well, and to date we collected forty-one $20 gift cards and ten $15 gift cards. The brokers of Windermere Madison Park collected 58 pairs of shoes!

We are so appreciative of everyone who made a donation to support the kids at Mary’s Place in Seattle. When shoes were passed out to the kids last year, we were beyond overwhelmed by the true need that existed there. Many of the kids who came to Mary’s Place were wearing old shoes that were way too big or small because that was all they had available. With your help, there are going to be hundreds of kids in the Seattle area with happy feet in shoes that fit them properly.

Not only are we so excited about surpassing the donation goal we set at the beginning of Kicks For Kids 2015, we are genuinely touched by the outpouring of support. We received donations from the agents, staff, friends, families and clients of Windermere Mercer Island. Our whole office helped promote the shoe drive via email, their social media profiles and word of mouth. Through that promotion, we had over a dozen people deliver shoes to the office (in person or by mail). Three deliveries were made anonymously.

When our Broker Marketing Coordinator, Megan Hand, and I discussed production ideas for the video we put together to promote Kicks For Kids, she introduced the concept of showing our love to these children through shoes – Shoe Love! I think that theme has permeated our office during the month of August. I think it’s safe to say that we all hope that each child who receives a new pair of shoes next week will get a boost of confidence knowing that so many people wanted them to start their first day of school better prepared.

Mary’s Place, with the help of Diono, Brooke and Jubal at Movin 92.5, The Wilde Rover, and Slalom, has been hosting school supply drives throughout the month of August. Backpacks filled with needed school supplies will the passed out to the kids as they come into Mary’s Place to be fitted for shoes and pick out a pair in their correct sizes.

Thank you to all who donated for your support!

Originally published on Mercer Island Pulse.