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<p>How many pair of shoes do you own?</p><p>I don&#8217;t have nearly as many shoes as the ladies in my house do, but between dress shoes, sneakers, boots and my vintage Crocs, I have 16 pairs of footwear. Other than the seasonal shoes, I use most of the others fairly regularly throughout the week. When entering our house, I usually take off whatever shoes I have on and I tend to leave them in our laundry room. They pile up pretty quickly and, at least weekly, I get scolded and told to put them away.</p><p>I am sharing this because I am blessed. If you have more than one pair of shoes, you are too. There are an estimated 300 million children throughout the world, including those in our own community, who do not own a pair of shoes or a pair that fits.</p><p>Last year, the United Way of Wyoming Valley learned of a scenario where two brothers were alternating which days they were going to school. When the school caught on to the pattern, the school questioned the older brother and learned that the boys were alternating which days of school they were attending because they were sharing the same pair of shoes. How sad.</p><p>As part of the United Way&#8217;s work to address childhood poverty, we believe education is critical and a key pathway out of poverty. As such, school attendance is very important. Unfortunately, chronic absenteeism is a huge issue, especially for many low-income, at-risk children in a number of local school districts. Far too many absences occur for reasons other than illness and a lack of basic resources is often a significant factor in not wanting or being able to attend school.</p><p>Last year, in an effort to help reduce preventable absences, we worked with the elementary school nurses in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District to pilot a new initiative called the Nurse&#8217;s Pantry. It is a simple, low-cost concept that has very tangible results. Every day, the Nurse&#8217;s Pantry is providing students with hygiene products, clothing, lice kits, shoes, coats, and other material aid items that are helping to meet their most immediate needs and is helping to keep them in class. The pilot was very well received and, beginning this school year, the program is now in 21 school buildings in six school districts throughout the Wyoming Valley.</p><p>We are all familiar with the old Native American proverb implying that we shouldn&#8217;t judge another man until we walk a mile in his moccasins. Of course, this isn&#8217;t about the moccasins. It is about understanding and empathy. Kids who are growing up in poverty and without the basic resources to succeed need our understanding, empathy and our support.</p><p>As the calendar year comes to a close and the season of giving is upon us, the United Way of Wyoming Valley is asking for your support. For those who feel blessed, your gift to our annual campaign will make a difference in the lives of kids in our community. &#8230; Your gift can be the difference between a toddler having access to childcare, or not; children having books, or not; students having eyeglasses, or not; kids having hygiene items, clothing, or shoes, or not; and, most importantly, our community&#8217;s future workforce and leaders having the opportunity to learn and reach their potential, or not.</p><p>Before I get scolded to clean up the laundry room floor once again, allow me to thank all those who have already supported this year&#8217;s annual campaign and our community.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Bill Jones, president and CEO of the United Way of the Wyoming Valley will be one of the panelists at the 'Children in Poverty' discussion May 1 at Misericordia University in Dallas.</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/web1_5.1-Events-Children-in-Poverty.jpg</photo0><caption0>Bill Jones, president and CEO of the United Way of the Wyoming Valley will be one of the panelists at the 'Children in Poverty' discussion May 1 at Misericordia University in Dallas.</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Bill Jones</p><p>Guest Columnist</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Bill Jones is President and CEO at United Way of Wyoming Valley. He can be reached at 829-6711 ext. 1230.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Bill Jones: Make a difference in a child’s life