3,000 learners from public schools in Bulacan can now walk to school in comfort after receiving a donation of school shoes from SM Malls in Marilao, San Jose Del Monte, Pulilan and Baliwag as well Sangandaan and Valenzuela.

The donation is part of SM Supermalls’ 60th anniversary celebration, through which the company has donated over 60,000 pairs of new shoes to children affected by poverty nationwide.

“This campaign is very close to our hearts” shares SM City Marilao Mall Manager Bernadette Velasco. “SM’s shoe drive signifies our humble beginnings, our milestone, our legacy and our pledge in making our communities better; after all our company started out with shoes” Velasco added.

Students ages 7-9 arrived in batches at a time, each being sized and fitted for their own pair of shoes.

According to Loma De Gato Elementary School Principal Rhea Malabanan, parents typically struggle to provide shoes required for school. Malabanan added that students often use slippers or come to school barefoot.

Dr. Flordeliza Limon of Tungkong Mangga Elementary School also shared that many children are also prevented from attending school because they lack resources to buy shoes.

Through the donation, SM Supermalls sought to encourage and motivate students to do well in school.

“We all know that shoes are basic commodity that everybody needs but sadly not everybody can afford” says SM City San Jose Del Monte Mall Manager Jose Mari Emmanuel Correa. He also explained that with the donated shoes, SM hopes that children would not miss the opportunity in getting to school for an education.

Along with handwritten note from SM Mall volunteers, new school shoes were distributed to students at Loma De Gato and Patulo Elementary School in Marilao, Tungkong Mangga Elementary School in San Jose Del Monte and Engr. Vicente R. Cruz Memorial School in Baliwag.

“#AweSMatWork: 60,000 Shoes” is one of the many projects under the Employee Volunteerism Program that is spearheaded by SM’s Human Resources Department through SM Cares.

A simultaneous activity, a total of 15,669 employees donated shoes for destitute learners nationwide.

With the #AweSMatWork: 60,000 Shoes project, SM stays confident that in every sole donated there will rise stories of successes to share like that of the company’s founder.