Arcadia Ales to host 'Brews & Shoes' fundraiser for First Day Shoe Fund tonight

Tuesday, 23 August 2022 06:08 Written by

Craft beer lovers wanting to support a good cause can head to Arcadia Ales in Kalamazoo tonight.

Arcadia is hosting "Brews & Shoes," a fundraiser for the First Day Shoe Fund, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Kalamazoo brewery, 701 E. Michigan Ave. 

Cost is $10 or a new pair of athletic shoes per person. Preferred shoe sizes for donations are children's size 12 through youth size 6. In exchange for admission, attendees will receive two drinks and light appetizers.

Each school year, First Day Shoe fund distributes a new pair of athletic shoes to children entering kindergarten through third grade in Kalamazoo and Comstock public schools who qualify for free or reduced lunch.

First Day Shoe Fund distributed 805 pairs of shoes in Kalamazoo Public Schools' summer school program this year. Organization officials expect to distribute an additional 1,700 pairs to Comstock and Kalamazoo school children this year, according to a press release. The organization has distributed nearly 13,000 pairs of athletic shoes to Kalamazoo County students since 2006.