Annual event helps about 800 kids start the new school year with a brand-new pair of shoes

About 10 years ago, members of a local church found a new way to help the community and local youth. They created a back to school shoe drive. It started as a legacy mission at Northgate Alaska Church, gathering donations in the sanctuary.  

After partnering with Thrive Mat-Su, Northgate’s shoe drive is now part of a major event that serves hundreds of families throughout the Mat-Su. 

“The congregation got together and wanted to do something for the community," said Tynissha Cromer, strategic benevolence director for iAMSOMEBODY and Northgate Alaska. 

iAMSOMEBODY, a local outreach program and branch of the Northgate church, partnered with Thrive, a program of United Way of Mat-Su dedicated to improving community wellness, three years ago. Now each summer during the weeks ahead of a new school year, local organizations host what has turned into a major event. 

It’s the ThriveFest and shoe giveaway.  

“Together we’ve grown from meeting a basic need to creating a community-wide event focused on connection, resources and belonging,” Cromer said.  

This year, the groups served more than 330 families, and about 800 local children received a brand-new pair of shoes during the event, Aug. 1 at the Menard Center in Wasilla. 

There are two parts to ThriveFest. The Menard indoor turf field is home to a carnival-like atmosphere for the afternoon with numerous booths set up by a variety of Thrive’s partners, including the Mat-Su Borough School District. There was a photobooth, bounce house and other games to add to the atmosphere of family fun. 

Families there for the shoe giveaway were led to the Menard upper track. Dozens of volunteers helped families cycle through a streamlined process. Clusters of chairs were set up on both sides of a collection of rows of boxes of shoes, in some cases stacked three or four feet high. Volunteers brought each child options to try on, helping to find the best fit and style.  

“We don't just get shoes. We look for the ones that are on trend, but that are also going to benefit the child. So they're really good shoes that they're gonna have for years to come,” Cromer said.  

Mat-Su students in grades kindergarten through 12th are eligible. Pre-registration is required, Cromer said, so the group knows about how many children they will be serving during the giveaway each year. Cromer said the Mat-Su Health Foundation awarded a grant to help purchase the shoes. The Mat-Su Sea Hawkers — the local booster club for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks — donated 300 pairs.  

Partners of ThriveFest included the Mat-Su Heath Foundation, Menard Sports Center, United Way of Mat-Su, Mat-Su Borough School District, LINKS, Mascot Arts, Behavior Matters ABA Services, Young Life, Thrive Youth Events, Mat-Su YMCA, Denali Family Services, REACH 907, Guidepost Pediatrics, Healthy Futures and Palmer hockey. Sponsors included U-Haul, Bridgepoint Law, Residential Mortgage, Valley Excavation, Wee Care A Lot Child Care, Hi Res Graphics, Shadow Mountain Locksmith and Patriot BBQ. 

Jeremiah Bartz is the Community Relations Coordinator for the Mat-Su School District.