Snacks n’ Sneakers puts students on the right track

Linda Fuhrmann arrived at 4 a.m. to 12 North St., braving rain as she waited five hours for doors to open.

She was the first of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold’s clients to line up for Day 1 of the Snacks n’ Sneakers program on Wednesday morning.

Fuhrmann, who collected school supplies for her two grandchildren, said she came early to “get a good pick of stuff.”

“I really appreciate what they do for me and my family,” she said of Community Care.

The Snacks n’ Sneakers initiative supplies students in need with a backpack, a pair of shoes and snacks for a week. The social service centre turns into a store, and kids come through and pick out their own supplies.

The program runs for nearly two weeks, and the centre is replenished with supplies throughout the day, said Danielle Cook of client services.

This year, the program is ontrack to help 1,200 local kids.

“It’s a big undertaking,” Cook said.

She said support from community members who donate the backpacks has been “phenomenal,” as has been that of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Canadian Tire Financial Services. Together, the two organizations sponsor the footwear component of the program, donating $48,000 to the five Snacks n’ Sneakers programs across Niagara. Of that amount, $21,000 went to Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

Scott Fraser, president of CT Jumpstart Charities, said Jumpstart’s mandate is to clear financial obstacles that prevent kids from joining sports.

Snacks n’ Sneakers “perfectly fits” this mandate, he said.

Fraser said sports give kids opportunities to make friends, advance their social skills and develop confidence. He said Snacks n’ Sneakers is also “an incredible” step in supplying kids with the necessary equipment they need to participate in sports.