Photo courtesy APC

Sierra shows off her new pink high tops.

Fifty ecstatic kids from Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) descended on Alameda Towne Center Dec. 22 and 23 to shop for a free pair of shoes at Payless Shoes. APC was among 630 nonprofits selected to participate in the 2008 Payless Gives Shoes 4 Kids Holiday Program, the first-ever national, grassroots campaign to deliver $1 million in free shoes to children of families in need. APC competed with 2,600 organizations to become a Payless ShoeSource partner and was awarded $750 in shoe gift coupons.

According to Jennifer Keibl, housing and services director at APC, "We are honored to partner with Payless ShoeSource to help meet a basic need for our community. The kids were thrilled to pick out their new shoes and everyone wore them home. We headed back with lots of happy feet. I especially want to thank the sales associate at Payless for the incredible service."

For one child, Sierra, the gift of new shoes came at just the right time. "My shoes were really worn-out. Now I have a pretty pair of pink high-tops!"

The Alameda Point Collabor-ative is a neighborhood located on 34 acres of Alameda Point, the former Alameda Naval Air Station, and operates 239 housing units. APC provides affordable housing, job training, health services and employment in a community that fosters support and interaction. APC operates a community garden, bike shop, commercial plant nursery, health center and community center.