On Thursday, March 10, 2016, the 9th annual Happy Feet project was held for 94 Latta School District students in greatest need. These students went on a shopping spree in Goody’s in Dillon to purchase much needed shoes, socks, shirts, pants, under garments and clothing accessories. The project is held in the early Spring of each year to help these students replace shoes and clothing they have grown out of from the beginning of the school year in hopes that this new clothing will carry them through the Spring and Summer until they can purchase new clothing for the new school year.
The project is funded through the combined efforts of the Latta School District, the Latta Schools Educational Foundation, the Latta High School Interact Club, students and staff at each of the Latta Schools, the Latta Rotary Club, and Goody’s in Dillon. The total amount spent on this year’s project set a new goal and was $26,472 in retail value. Funding for this came from the Latta Rotary Club with a Rotary International grant of $2,600, Goody’s donated savings and discounts of $7,436,, the Latta Schools Educational Foundation and Latta School District donating $4036 and the Latta Interact Club and all Latta Schools students and faculty fund raising $12,400.
Each of the 94 students purchased approximately $282 in retail clothing with a net cost after Goody’s savings of $202. Approximately 15 Latta Rotary Club members volunteered along with 40 Latta School District staff members and 10 Latta High School student Interact Club members to help the students shop for their clothing.
The original Happy Feet program began with the Mt. Pleasant Rotary Club purchasing shoes for needy students. The Latta project differs somewhat in that it includes other clothing items that these students also desperately need. Each student purchased at least one pair of shoes and additional clothing attire. This Latta project partners exclusively with Goody’s on this event because of the dedicated staff giving their time for the event and the great generosity of Goody’s management in the additional financial support of the cost.
Current Latta Rotary Club President LaFon LeGette was greeted with many student smiles and thanks as he diligently helped his fellow Rotarians bag up the students’ clothes. Rotarians Corky Lane, Patty Griffey, Rob Lessor and Marsden Cox worked tirelessly bagging clothes and helping students maximize their purchases. Rotarians Robert McIntyre, Amanda Morrell, Cindy LeGette, George Liebenrood, Walt Brown and Glen Greene, III helped guide students with shopping choices and sizes. These Latta Rotarians exemplified the “Service Above Self” Rotary Motto for the Latta High School Interact Club students that they sponsor to strive to become future Rotarians and leaders in our local communities and the world.
Latta High School Interact Club sponsor, Susan Bryson, was all smiles as she commented about what a great job her students had done in leading this year’s fund raising effort of almost $15,000.
Many thanks and hugs were given to Latta School Principals Dollie Morrell, Debra Morris and Leigh Sloan for their generous efforts in planning and managing the successful school fund raising events. They each gave many thanks to their students and parents for supporting this cause. Latta School Board Trustee Eleanor Powers was thrilled with the project that brought so many smiles to these children in need. She commented that is was a wonderful day to do so much good and was proud to be a part of a project that exemplified how the Latta School District is committed to providing a supportive family style environment for all of its students.
