“In the spring of 2002, First Presbyterian Church of Cedar Falls, Iowa, was considering how to best use its share of the Pentecost Offering. The Mission Committee viewed the Pentecost Offering video that tells about a church in Wisconsin that had used its share of the Offering to provide vouchers for school shoes for children at risk. The idea immediately grabbed the attention of the committee as an exciting way to meet a very basic need of children.

First Presbyterian entered into a partnership with Payless Shoes stores in our area in which we provide $15 vouchers for a pair of school shoes to children in our metropolitan area and Payless gives a 10 percent discount as well.

We did not want this to be just “our” project, so we sent letters to Presbyterian and other churches in the area and with publicity solicited funds from the community. This partnership has become important to the success of the program.

The project has grown tremendously in its outreach, increasing from 440 vouchers in 2002, to 550 in 2003, to 800 in 2004. Already in 2005 we have received requests for 900 vouchers and have funded 500 of them with funds that include a presbytery grant, our congregation’s Pentecost Offering, special offerings, and gifts from other churches. It often takes until Christmas to have enough funds for the whole waiting list.

The “Soles for Souls” shoe program has helped our congregation respond to God’s love in Jesus Christ with love, commitment, and service as we have reached out to serve our brothers and sisters in need. This mission program also helps us unite in love as a family of faith as many more individuals, churches, and organizations have supported this project each year.

We have been excited to learn that another congregation in our presbytery heard about what we were doing, and its members now offer a similar program in their community.

Here are several responses we received last year:

Dear Friends in Christ,
I want to write and thank you so much for the shoe vouchers for my two grandchildren. They really love their new shoes and were so excited to get them. Thanks again so much. God bless and keep you all. In Christ, J.

To the Pastor, Officers, and Congregation:
I am writing to thank you for the gift cards that were sent to me for my two grandchildren. I want you to know that your generosity was greatly appreciated and that my grandchildren were very excited to be able to pick their own shoes and carry their own bag.

Your program is very helpful to those who are not able to afford the things that are needed for school. I try to do what I can for them when I can. So on behalf of my family, I want to say, God bless each and every one of you for your selflessness and kindness.

When the Praises go up, the Blessings come down!

To Members of First Presbyterian Church: Thank you for the gift card to purchase a pair of tennis shoes for my daughter. I have been a single parent for 17 years for both my children and have supported them myself through my waitressing job. This year has really been rough for me, as I have been unable to work due to two foot surgeries, one in January, and another in August. Because I did not heal properly after the surgery in January, I had to have the whole procedure done one more time, and it will lay me up until the beginning of December. So again, I wanted to thank you for the gift, it was well appreciated by both me and my daughter. May God Bless You All. Sincerely, M.

I would like to thank you for the vouchers for the families who are served by the Hispanic ministry in our community. May the Lord continue to bless your ministry. Have a great day full of the Lord’s blessings. M. R.

Brad Braley
First Presbyterian Church
Cedar Falls IA 50613
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