“It brings me so much joy to see the smiles on student’s faces when they pick out their new shoes,” said Leah Glasgo, president of UnityPoint Health – Fort Dodge. “To see the UnityPoint Health team, AFES, local businesses and community members come together to support students as they start the school year shines a light on how great our community is.”

UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge employees donated 60 pairs of name brand shoes.

Kingsgate Insurance, CJ Bio America, Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota, Iowa Fire Control, Echo Electric, Legacy Realty, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co., Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Woodruff Construction, Johnson Law Office, and Daybreak Rotary Club also donated shoes to students in need. Both Fort Dodge Ford Lincoln Toyota and Kingsgate Insurance have provided shoes to students every year of the donation drive.

In fact, so many shoes were donated to the annual back-to-school drive that more than 25 extra pairs were available. According to Molly Hiveley, marketing communications specialist with UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge, those extra shoes will be stored and provided to students throughout the year as needed.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Harmoni Owen, 11, of Fort Dodge, chooses a pair of brand new shoes donated by businesses of Fort Dodge on Monday at Fort Dodge Middle School.

“We know how important having a good pair of shoes is for the first day of school,” said Glasgo. “Whether it is for running in PE or the social stigmas associated with having new shoes, we know kids feel better when they start the school year with a new pair of kicks. This is why we do this shoe drive. How you look and how you feel are so connected. Our hope is we can boost kids’ confidence so they can do their best in school.”

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Greenlee Crimmins, 14, of Fort Dodge, left, helps Degan Friesth, 11, of Fort Dodge, choose a pair of brand new shoes donated by businesses of Fort Dodge on Monday at Fort Dodge Middle School.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Damien Miller, of Fort Dodge, helps Valeria Guevara, 11, of Fort Dodge, choose a pair of brand new shoes donated by businesses of Fort Dodge on Monday at Fort Dodge Middle School.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Sandy Fletcher, of Fort Dodge, right, helps DijaRae Danzy, 11, of Fort Dodge, choose a pair of brand new shoes donated by businesses of Fort Dodge on Monday at Fort Dodge Middle School.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Lizzy Becker, 11, of Fort Dodge, tries a pair of brand new shoes donated by businesses of Fort Dodge on Monday at Fort Dodger Middle School.