Rotary Club of Kilgore’s 2026 sole train is on track to shoe 400-plus students before they head back to class next month.
Club members are putting the finishing touches on this year’s inventory ahead of the annual shoe-and-sock distribution Friday and Saturday.
“We have 406 pairs of shoes,” Rotarian Linda Sartor said Sunday. “All of them, the socks have been put in, so they are ready to go.
“The shoes look really good this year.”
Launched in August 2003, this will be the local civic organization’s 23rd year to host the drive for local families with school-age children. From club leaders, “The Rotary Club of Kilgore believes every child should have a new pair of shoes and socks to wear for the first day of school.”
The two-day event runs 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, July 24, in the Family Center of St. Luke’s Methodist Church. The Rotary volunteers will be back from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday.
The shoe distribution is funded through the group’s annual flag program as local pay to have the stars-and-stripes put up in their yards for each patriotic holiday. Costs are supplemented by club members’ donations as well as a portion of local contributions returned from Rotary International.
Officially, the drive is open to families of Pre-K through 12th grade students in Kilgore ISD and Sabine who receive various benefits (SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or the National School Lunch Program) but the Rotarians stock extra for all comers.
“We target Kilgore and Sabine, but I’m not going to turn away anybody,” Sartor said. “We want the kids to have shoes.”
St. Luke’s is located at 401 E. Main St. with ample parking in the vicinity. There will be signage directing families through the process. Children who need shoes must be present (and accompanied by a parent or guardian) to be measured for their new pair of shoes.
Additional helpers are most welcome, Sartor says.
In addition to Rotarians, “I could still use a few more volunteers if they’re able,” she added, welcoming students groups from the Kilgore High School Band, National Honor Society and others, including Rotary’s own Interact club members.
Spearheading the effort alongside her husband, fellow Rotarian and former club president, Tom Sartor, it’s been a busy summer accruing the stock of shoes from a variety of sources.
“Everything’s brand new,” Linda Sartor said; any excess is donated to Kilgore ISD and Sabine ISD’s individual campuses to give out during the year.
“We try to do it a week or two weeks before school,” Tom Sartor added, easing the school shopping burden on parents. “They’re good lookin’ shoes.”
Notably, the State of Texas’ annual back-to-school sales tax holiday is set this year Friday through Sunday, Aug. 7-9. Local youngsters will already have new kicks checked off the list.
“I think the kids will be really, really pleased,” Sartor said. “I hope they’ll be proud to wear them to school.”
