Kicks for Kids is a program that takes donations from the Brown County community before the school year starts. The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce asks the schools what shoe sizes they need, and then the Chamber delivers those shoes to the school counselors to disperse to students. A good turnout came for Kicks for Kids, with La Botana providing free meals for all who donate.

“We do [Kicks for Kids] right before school starts so we can get all the schools prepared for what they need for when the kids come in,” said Rachel Long. “We’ve had a good turnout, I think we have close to 100 pairs of shoes, and La Batona has given away probably 30 to 40 meals. They’ve donated all of the meals for Kicks for Kids.”

This is the third year that the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce has conducted this event that is held once a year. “It began as a necessity to kind of help the schools,” said Kandice Harris, Communications Manager for the Chamber. “Kids go to school each year, some of them have shoes that don’t fit or that are old and worn or hammy-downs. And so just to add something that will be helpful for the school year for those kids, the young Professionals brained stormed and came up with this idea. It has been very successful in the past. There’s a need throughout the year and there’s a space for those kids to go and get a new pair of shoes.”

The Chamber has utilized this program for both the Brownwood and Early School districts, and hope to expand in the future. “It all depends upon how many shoes we get and if there’s enough demand for it,” said Harris.

[Story by Jacob Lehrer]