ESMS Primary 6 schoolgirl Heather McLean launched her 'Step in my Shoes' appeal today and in one day collected more than 1500 pairs of shoes and socks which will be shipped to the Greek island of Lesbos next week to be distributed to arriving refugees.
Heather approached the Headmaster of her school, ESMS Junior School, 3 weeks ago to ask if she could appeal to the school community to collect unwanted and new shoes which could then be donated to a refugee charity.
By coincidence, at around the same time, Headmaster, Mr Lewis, was contacted by Angela Turnbull of the Edinburgh Cares charity to ask if the schools could support their 'Step in my Shoes' appeal. Their 'Step in my Shoes' appeal was launched to collect and transport shoes to the Greek Island of Lesbos so that refugees arriving there, and embarking on their journey to Macedonia, might be provided with dry socks and shoes for the journey.
First thing on Thursday morning shoes began arriving at Stewart's Melville College and The Mary Erskine School and by 3pm more than 1500 shoes and socks had been collected, tied, bagged and stacked ready to be shipped out.
Mr Lewis said: "Heather's idea to collect shoes is inspirational and I was very impressed by her commitment to her appeal. Kindness and responsibility are two of our key values at ESMS and I believe Heather's involvement, and indeed the involvement of the wider school community, is a reflection of the importance that we place in our schools on helping others ".
