SOUTH COUNTY — One hundred elementary school children in Soledad and 50 in Greenfield are enjoying new shoes this Christmas thanks to the generosity of a Soledad church.
Good Samaritan church arranged with the Hispanic Assemblies of God, Northern California District, to donate the shoes at San Vicente and Gabilan elementary schools in Soledad and Mary Chapa Academy in Greenfield.
The distribution took place last Friday, Dec. 7.
“The children were delighted to receive these gifts, and we are grateful to our friends in the Assemblies of God district for generously providing them,” said Pastor Gonzalo Arreola.
Teachers at the schools provided the children’s names, ages and shoe sizes to the group, so by the time the youth came to pick up their shoes, every pair was labeled with the child’s name and class.
After a brief fitting to make sure the shoes were right, the smiling children ran back to their classes.
“The organization was very impressive,” commented one of the helpers.
