Murphy – In 1991, Betsy Lane became the first local State Farm Insurance agent. After hearing a segment on National Public Radio about getting shoes for kids who need them, Lane decided she could do that at the same time.
So she started collecting donations to help provide shoes to students in Cherokee County. She would ask customers, family and friends to donate, and found it was a cause people always seemed willing to help. As donations were collected, she delivered them to the Cherokee County Board of Education, which would decide when children needed new shoes.
Lane retired in 2011, when her State Farm office was handed over to her son-in-law, Steven Aft. Aft has continued to collect donations by making flyers, placing ads in newspapers and posting information online about the Shoe Fund. Pre-COVID, the balance reached more than $10,000 and, even with all of the difficulties related to the pandemic, the community continued donating to the Shoe Fund.
In October 2022, Thomas McMahon, who works with Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel, informed his employer about the fund. This resulted in the HERO program – Harrah’s Employees Reaching Out – donating more than $11,000 from ticket redemptions, which was matched by another company, adding another $10,000 to the Shoe Fund.
The Shoe Fund has continued growing for decades and spread to help Graham County students. State Farm would love to see the fund spread into other surrounding counties, including in north Georgia.
“It’s about so much more than the shoes. It’s about instilling confidence in these students and removing a worry that could distract them in school,” said Mary Jo Dyre, marketing director at Steven Aft State Farm.
As we enter the season of giving, Steven Aft State wants to make the community more aware of this fund. They want to raise awareness that this is a need that will always exist in our region and across the country.
Shoes wear out, kids grow fast and prices of goods are rising. This can make it difficult for families to buy new shoes for their students throughout the year.
Teachers, counselors and other school staff are always keeping an eye on students in Cherokee and Graham counties to see if they are in need of shoes, as the funds can be accessed anytime there is a need. Parents or guardians who cannot afford new shoes, but know their student needs them, can also contact their school’s guidance counselor.
“These are the first steps for more. Students that can focus on school in confidence can also have the confidence to continue their education by applying for scholarships and going to college,” Dyre said.
Details: Donations for the Shoe Fund are accepted year-round and can be made to either Cherokee County Schools or Graham County Schools at gotheextramiletoday.org/shoefund. They can also be mailed to Go the Extra Mile Today, P.O. Box 279, Murphy, NC 28906. Ensure that the checks are payable to either Cherokee County Schools Shoe Fund or Graham County Schools Shoe Fund.