The Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board was selected as a partner in the Payless Shoes 4 Kids program — a grass roots effort to deliver $1.2 million of free shoes to children of families in need this holiday season. The Blanco County Board received fifteen $15 shoe gift coupons to deliver to children in the board’s charge. The coupons are being sent in Christmas cards along with special Christmas presents to all children who are in foster care or that are part of the Blanco County board’s responsibility.

“We are very proud to be a recipient of the Payless Shoes 4 Kids program to help foster parents provide much-needed shoes for our children,” said Bill Swiss, president of the 11-member Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board. “This board works hard year-round to ensure that children in the foster care and child protective system are provided with holiday and birthday gifts as well as shoes, clothing and the normal, day-to-day items that most of us take for granted.”

More than 2,900 nonprofit groups across the country applied for the Payless Shoes 4 Kids program. According to Payless, the Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board was one of 700 nonprofit organizations selected. Payless hopes that a great pair of shoes can lift spirits, bolster self-confidence and bring a huge smile to each child’s face, especially when they get to pick out shoes for themselves.

The mission of the Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board is to encourage and promote activities that benefit Blanco County children involved in court-ordered protective custody as well as those underprivileged children in need of services. You can make a difference in the life of a child; report child abuse or neglect toll-free at 1-800-252-5400.