Appleton Shoe Drive Collects More than 350 Pairs for Pearl Project

From Dec.17-Jan. 19, children’s shoes were collected at the Appleton and TJM Promos in exchange for a one-year individual membership to the Appleton and a members’ only thermos donated by TJM. The community responded in an overwhelmingly generous way and 364 pairs of new and like-new shoes were collected between the two sites. The Appleton reciprocated with 147 memberships.

“We are so thankful to our members and the community for responding in such a thoughtful and generous way,” said Victoria Billig, assistant director at the Appleton Museum of Art. “As a nonprofit ourselves, we know that every bit helps and that everyone benefits from teamwork. We wanted to do something for the children in our community who are in need, and for the Pearl Project, which so compassionately serves them.”

The Pearl Project is a nonprofit organization that provides services for foster and adoptive families. Like pearls, many children’s stories begin in hard places. The Pearl Project offers hope and practical help to these families through educational opportunities and support groups. The shoes will stock The Pearl Project’s Kid-2-Kid closet, which serves children of all ages.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Appleton and TJM Promos for providing an opportunity for people to support local foster/adoptive families,” said Joy Zedler, board member and executive director of the Pearl Project. “We are blown away by all the beautiful shoes that now fill our Kid-2-Kid Closet. There will soon be a lot of happy feet in Ocala. Thank you to everyone who gave!”

To learn more about the Pearl Project, visit www.thepearlprojectflorida.org.

Owned and operated by the College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, east of downtown on SR 40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). Parking is free. For more information, call 352-291-4455 or visit AppletonMuseum.org.