If you’re a JHop student who needs shoes but cannot afford to buy them, you may be able to get them for free thanks to a kind-hearted staff member.
Sofia Forte, who teaches physical education, helps scholars in need by gifting them donated shoes.
Coach Forte, as she is known, started this project about 10 years ago with her son when he started donating shoes to JHMS. She paused the program when COVID shutdown everything and school shifted online. When in-person school resumed, she and her daughter restarted the program.
Many of the scholars were in need or looked like they needed shoes, which made them restart the service. “It’s for our students and actually not just John Hopkins because we have also donated to kids in other places, Coach Forte stated.
You can donate shoes by talking to Coach Forte. These shoes also go to other schools and homeless shelters.
“This is done secretly. I bring them into the office without anybody else hearing and let them take a look at the shoes they want,” said Coach Forte. “Sometimes I notice that a kid’s shoes may be pretty worn. I’ll just call them over, speak to them and ask them if its ok for them to get some shoes.”
“Part of this program is to get kids to understand that someone has been nice to them and they need to be nice in return. Once a kid comes to get shoes, they have to send a thank you note to the donor. Now I’m going to add that they also have to do an act of kindness for somebody else,” Coach Forte said.
All the shoes are brand-new.
