The "Happy Feet" program was started during Rotary Year 2014-2015 by the Cody Rotary Club and the Cody Rotary Foundation to help address a growing concern that children in our community lacked adequate footwear. It was modeled after programs in other Rotary Clubs in the United States.
Approximately 30% of children in Park County School District #6, which includes Cody, are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch programs, and the number is as high as 48% at one elementary school. If parents are interested in the program, they complete a consent form and return it the school office. If the child is selected, local Rotarians provide a pair of shoes and two pairs of socks to the school to be distributed. If consent is provided by the parent/guardian, local Rotarians along with a school counselor present the child with the shoes in private in the school counselor's office. The program is anonymous, provided at no cost and open to any student.
Since its initiation, the Happy Feet program has expended to include students in need at the middle school, as well as the three elementary schools. It is supported through discounts by local merchants WalMart and Sports HQ.
This grant will enable us to serve the growing number of requests. Our numbers have grown as documented below:
2014-2015 School Year 25 shoes
2015-2016 School Year 50 shoes
2016-2017 School Year 148 shoes (In 2016-2017, we were the recipients of a one-time grant from the Paul Stock Foundation to enable us to make the program available to students in Park County School District #1, Powell.)
2017-2018 Requests thus far to fill: 80 These requests are for Park County School District #6 only
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