APS students in need can get new shoes

Hundreds of Albuquerque Public Schools students will get a new pair of shoes thanks to a Sandia Labs fundraising campaign.

Over the first half of the month, lab employees raised nearly $12,600 for the APS Education Foundation, which will pay for about 500 students to get a voucher for a new pair of shoes, according to a Sandia Labs release.

The APS Clothing Bank has seen a 25% increase in demand for shoes compared to last year.

The money was raised through a Valentine’s Day campaign from Feb. 1-14.

During that period, lab employees sent electronic Valentine’s Day cards letting the receiver know that a donation of shoes was made on their behalf. Sandia called it the Hearts and Soles Valentine’s campaign.