Buckner staff and volunteers distributed 250 pairs of shoes to children in need at David G. Burnet Elementary School in the Bachman Lake community April 16. Many of the shoes were purchased with funds given on North Texas Giving Day in 2015.

The four elementary schools in the Bachman Lake area, including Burnet, have about 4,000 students, 93 percent of whom are considered “economically disadvantaged.” The area has a teen pregnancy rate of three times the national average and a Child Protective Services removal rate twice the Dallas County average.

“Dallas is home for Buckner and we know there is so much need that we can meet,” said Buckner President and CEO Albert Reyes. “We are privileged and ready to help serve more of great families in our city.”

The distribution was an incredible blessing to Burnet students. 

“For the first time in four years, I have seen so many families inside the school enjoying games, food and receiving shoes,” said Burnet Elementary School Principal Sonia Loskot. “What was most impactful was to see the volunteers from Buckner kneel to fit shoes on students' feet. As research suggests, ensuring students' social and emotional state is taken care of will then impact student achievement. [That] is what was seen on this event and throughout this partnership with Buckner."  

Loskot also said Buckner has been “shining hope on our campus by helping our school celebrate the great programs [we] offer and showing appreciation to our teachers. I know that a ‘miracle’ is truly happening at Burnet thanks to Buckner.”

Last year Buckner served more than 49,000 individuals in North Texas through foster care, foster group homes on the Buckner Children’s Home campus, Buckner Family Pathways and the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid. Buckner provides community programs that minister to low-income children and families through counseling, education assistance programs, job training, women’s support groups, food services and parenting classes.