
Happy faces on the big day, when every fifth grade student at Manatee Elementary received new shoes. Photos by Jesus Calo
Instead of a big red sleigh guided by reindeer, Fuller Funeral Home lent their flower van to help deliver the boxes of shoes. East Naples Merchants Association (ENMA) President Sandra Simmons, Vice President Tom Drummond, along with members Tim Miller, Maribel Slabaugh and Jim Oliver, came through to facilitate the delivery.
ENMA also provided lunch, from association member Baci Pizza & Ristorante; enough six-foot-long Italian and American sandwiches, garlic knots and tossed salad to feed 110 students, faculty, and administrative staff.

County Commissioner Donna Fiala greets students.
ENMA purchased new tennis shoes for 94 fifth-grade students. Manatee Elementary teachers and administration worked closely with ENMA to get the kids’ shoe sizes coordinated in the months prior.

Front row: Dr. Laurie Mearsheimer, Maribel Slabaugh and Jim Oliver. Back row: Tim Miller, Tom Drummond and Sandra Simmons.
“For example, a case could contain a range of one pair size 13, one pair 12½, two pairs of 12, and so on down to size 10,” ENMA President Simmons recounted. “We would have to order 35 cases of that size range to try and fit every stu- dent, which would be costly. So we came up with a solution that was within our budget for this project.”

Everyone pitched in to unload the boxes of shoes.
The shoes were delivered in unwrapped boxes, allowing the kids try them on for a proper fit. Manatee Elementary received an abundant number of shoes, extras will be stocked in a “shoe closet.” When teachers recognize a child in need from any grade, a pair can be provided.

ENMA purchased new tennis shoes for 94 fifth-grade students.
This is an ongoing project. During the school year, Manatee Elementary School can notify ENMA if they are running low on shoes, and the association will work to restock the needed sizes.
For more information about how you can contribute or become an ENMA member, visit www.eastnaplesmerchantsassoc.com.
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