PROVIDED PHOTO Liz Brown, a student at the University of Lock Haven, puts shoes on the shelves of the Lock Haven area shoe bank. The Shoe Bank will be giving away free shoes and boots on Saturday, March 19 by appointment.
LOCK HAVEN – Eligible children and teens can pick up a pair of free new shoes on Saturday, March 19 at the Lock Haven area shoe bank. New free boots are also available.
The shoe room and boot room will be open that day, by appointment only, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They are inside the Covenant United Methodist Church, 44 W. Main St., Lock Haven.
Many brand new hats, mittens and scarves are also available, some purchased and others donated by the Knotty Knitters, the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church Prayer Shawl Ministry and others.
Free socks and books are always offered.
Children of all ages, including toddlers, and teens up to 18 are eligible if they live in Clinton County or the Liberty-Curtin school area and have an access card PA, CHIP insurance card or similar insurance card. If they don’t have a card, they may be referred by a school or agency.
Anyone eligible for the program will be able to pick up a pair of free new winter boots on March 19 as well, if they have not already received boots this winter.
Some of the security procedures related to COVID-19 are continuing. Everyone must wear a mask.
Appointments will be scheduled every 15 minutes depending on family size.
To reserve your timeslot, call or text Diahann at 814-571-5324 (Monday-Friday 7-9pm). Please indicate if you are new to the program, how many boys and girls are coming and if there are any special requests or needs.
Please let Diahann know if you are sick on March 19 or need to cancel for another reason. She keeps a waiting list.
Families who can’t call or text ahead can still do so on the morning of March 19, the day the Shoe Bank is open, to see if a cancellation has opened a time slot.
Please arrive five minutes early to keep your appointment. If you are late, you will have to reschedule.
Anyone who knows a family who could benefit from this service is encouraged to spread the word. For more information about the Shoe Bank or to volunteer, contact Diahann at 814-571-5324, or email lhasb@outlook.com, or visit lockhavenshoebank.org.
The Shoe Bank depends solely on grants and donations. Funding is provided by the Clinton County Community Foundation, a grant from M&T Bank, the John B. Hoy, Jr. Memorial Charity Golf Tournament, other granting agencies, civic groups, churches and individual donors.