SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Flashy free footwear is what students in Scranton received on Wednesday. TJX Corporation and Operation Warm joined forces to give out more than 300 pairs of shoes.
The goal is to ensure every child at the school has new shoes and socks.
Stepping up in a big way, we're talking Operation Warm, a community collaboration.
The event put smiles on the faces of more than 300 students who also learned a lesson about paying it forward.
From the start, you could tell things were going to be fun here at McNichols Plaza Elementary School on Wednesday.
The energy was contagious.
"They got the whole treatment of, let's see you're size. Here's your new socks, pick out what color you like, and then leaving with them, they're dancing. They're showing off their feet. It's so cute and they're so grateful," McNichols Educational Plaza Principal Mina Ardestani said.
This auditorium was transformed into a mini-mall.
"They're so pretty and my favorite color is blue, so I really like them," third-grade student Lucy Schalk said.
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For the 22nd year, TJX Corporation has teamed up with Operation Warm, a national non-profit, to provide hundreds of new shoes.
This year, socks are a part of the package.
With great care and precision, these TJ Maxx employee volunteers helped each student find the perfect pair.
"I'm thankful for, and like, this is very nice of them to give us, for us," fourth grader Adalyn Griffin said.
"I'm really grateful for getting new shoes because shoes cost money and they're expensive, and we got them for free because of TJMaxx," Schalk added.
"My friend had a pair of shoes that has, like a hole in the bottom of it, and now he thinks he can he can get new shoes to wear instead of those," third-grade student Jayden Campanga said.
These kiddos received the royal treatment. One by one, they were paired with their own personal shopper.
First stop was sizing, next was shopping.
Once a pair was chosen and tied tight the students were off to continue doing what they're already doing in the classroom and that's putting their best foot forward.
"I'm excited to go run and play with them," Griffin added.
"It's nice because now my parents don't have to buy a new pair of shoes for next school year," Campanga explained.
Operation Warm left McNichols Plaza with extra pairs of shoes and socks, in case any kids missed school on Wednesday or new students come in before the end of the school year.
