Feature
December
09
Santa’s Sneakers
by Mary Downer
As Christmas approaches, more than visions of sugarplums dance through the minds of some children in Houma. These children are excited because they know Santa will be bringing them a new pair of sneakers this year. With the help of funds raised by Junior Auxiliary of Houma and donations from our local Payless shoe store, J.A. of Houma was able to provide shoes for over 200 children at their annual Santa’s Sneakers event, which took place on Saturday, December 4.
Chartered by a group of caring, enthusiastic women in 1973, this local organization comprised only of volunteers continues to grow and thrive. Members work tirelessly throughout the year on a variety of projects that focus on local children and families in need of assistance. As part of the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, N.A.J.A. has more than 13,500 members.
The national focus of J.A. is “Healthy Children, Healthy Futures.” Santa’s Sneakers was recently the recipient of the N.A.J.A. National Focus Award due to the outstanding nature of the sneaker project and its relevance to the national focus.
J.A. of Houma believes that by providing children with a pair of new sneakers, they are providing them with a chance to get out and play, to join in the schoolyard games and races and maybe even the encouragement to join an athletic team. They believe that by receiving a pair of sneakers, a child may no longer have to go barefoot, thereby saving them from ridicule and harassment.
Often times, children’s shoes are over-worn, having been passed down from child to child. These shoes can no longer provide the necessary support and guidance for growing and changing feet. Proper fitting shoes can also aid existing problems such as low arches.
The organization takes special care to properly match each child with the perfect fitting shoe. In November, fitting sessions were held at the Terrebonne Parish Main Library. Professionals from Payless measured each child’s foot to ensure a proper fit and to enable the child to have a comfortable, personalized shoe.
The day of the Santa’s Sneakers event is filled with excitement, for the members of J.A. and the anxiously awaiting children. The membership arrived early to begin setting up for the grand event. On this day, the children are treated to much more than a pair of shoes. A fresh, hot meal including hot dogs, nachos, cookies and other homemade sweets is provided for the children and their parents or guardians.
Arts and crafts stations were set up offering multiple projects for the kids to immerse themselves in. This year’s crafts were made up of self-adhesive foam cutouts. Children were able to decorate their own little foam Christmas tree, make a gingerbread man ornament for their own tree and a paper bag Rudolph to keep their goodies in.
A Christmas party isn’t complete without a visit from Santa. Since all the children were so good this year they quickly formed a line. They bounced up and down with uncontained excitement as they waited their turn to sit on Santa’s lap for a quick visit and to have their picture taken.
Using a digital camera and photo printers, the J.A. members instantly provided children with their picture to place in a handmade frame.
“Santa’s Sneakers is a very special day for Junior Auxiliary,” says Tammy Shearer, chapter president. “It is a time when we take pause during a very busy season and remember that we are here to help each other. The gratitude in the children’s eyes is truly heartwarming. Each year as I leave the event, I am always so touched and humbled to know how much we have touched the lives of these children. This is why I am in Junior Auxiliary.”
While the children and their families eagerly anticipate the gift of a pair of shoes as well as the annual event, the true gift is watching the joy on children’s faces as they unwrap their brand new pair of shoes, rejoice as they try them on and race around the gymnasium.
