Laces 4 Love gives back to community

JoAnna Webb and Aaliyah Lawrence, 3, couldn't stop smiling at each other Tuesday - Aaliyah joyful over the new shoes she received and Webb delighted at the opportunity to provide them for her.

Aaliyah and dozens of other preschool kids at the Aiken-Barnwell Head Start were the beneficiaries of the First Baptist Church of North Augusta's annual Laces 4 Love project Tuesday. Church volunteers also brought shoes to children at North Aiken Elementary School and East Aiken Elementary School. This week the program will donate shoes to about 2,200 low-income kids in Aiken, Edgefield and McCormick counties.

Webb returned home on Christmas break from North Greenville College in time to participate in Laces 4 Love.

"I really want to work with kids," said the psychology major. "It's personally rewarding to see the smiles on these kids' faces today. I hope it will make a difference for them."

Mark Owens, currently the church's missions and evangelism minister, started the project five years ago. Volunteers also have taken shoes on mission trips to Nicaragua, donating about 1,600 pairs over the past two years. The funds come from many generous donors within the church, and the volunteers buy the shoes wherever they can find them.

"Some of the kids don't want to wear the shoes yet so they won't get them dirty," said volunteer Jim Richards. "Sometimes, they will come with the shoes they got last year, even though they're too small now. They get so excited to get the new shoes."

Donald Bridges finds the project quite moving each year.

"You see these kids who probably wouldn't have gotten a really good pair of shoes," he said. "It really gives me an upbeat feeling."

Beverly Ashley, Head Start's family service manager, said Laces 4 Love brought shoes to the agency for the third straight year.

"We're so grateful to the organization," she said. "It enhances what we do for children. The kids understand this is special, and they like all the affection and love and hugs."

Another college student, Winthrop University sophomore Hillary Hinson, has always known she wanted to be a teacher.

"I love doing this, and seeing the children's faces is one of my favorite things to do," she said. "It helps me realize that when you're a teacher, many of the children have needs."

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.