Shoe Drive at Pathways Family Shelter Donates Over 200 Pairs

Mesa Valley Education Association and Homeward Bound team up to provide shoes for families in need.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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A collaborative shoe drive between HomewardBound of the Grand Valley and the Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA) resulted in the donation of over 200 pairs of shoes to families at the Pathways Family Shelter in Grand Junction, Colorado. The drive was initiated after a REACH advocate noticed the need for shoes among families, and the collected shoes were made available for the families to browse and select from.

Why it matters

Providing basic necessities like shoes can have a significant impact on the lives of families in need, especially children, by supporting their overall well-being and enabling them to focus on their education. This initiative highlights the importance of community collaboration in addressing the fundamental needs of vulnerable populations.

The details

The shoe drive was organized by the Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA), with the involvement of teachers, counselors, psychologists, and other school staff. Donation boxes were placed at various schools throughout the district, resulting in the collection of well over 200 pairs of shoes. The donated shoes were then made available for families at the Pathways Family Shelter to select from, giving the children an opportunity to experience the joy of choosing their own new shoes.

  • The shoe drive took place on March 10, 2026.
  • The donated shoes were made available to families at the Pathways Family Shelter on the same day.

The players

Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA)

A local education association that organized the shoe drive and coordinated the involvement of school staff and community members.

HomewardBound of the Grand Valley

A non-profit organization that collaborated with MVEA on the shoe drive and provided the distribution platform at the Pathways Family Shelter.

Pathways Family Shelter

The shelter in Grand Junction, Colorado, where the donated shoes were made available to families in need.

Dan Worth

The president of the Mesa Valley Education Association, who provided details about the initiation and organization of the shoe drive.

Caroline Mazza

The case manager for HomewardBound, who spoke about the significance of the event for the families and children receiving the donated shoes.

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What they’re saying

“We got teachers, counselors, psychologists, school staff, our community involved, put boxes out at the various schools throughout the district in the valley. We collected well over 200 pairs of shoes.”

— Dan Worth, President, Mesa Valley Education Association (KJCT8.com)

“For some of these kids, that's going to be their first pair of shoes in quite a few months, if not quite a few years. So then being able to come down and do like a little bit of shopping and get some of that experience, I think means the world to the families and the kids.”

— Caroline Mazza, Case Manager, HomewardBound (KJCT8.com)

The takeaway

This collaborative shoe drive demonstrates the power of community partnerships in addressing the basic needs of families facing hardship. By providing access to essential items like shoes, the initiative not only supports the immediate well-being of the recipients but also enables them to focus on their education and long-term goals, ultimately contributing to the overall betterment of the community.