Providing Resources and Essentials to Prepare Kids for School

Thank you to everyone who supported our 9th annual event!

We believe that children cannot meet their full potential in school if they and their families are struggling with basic needs. This annual event continues to fill a gap in our community and assists families with one of the most expensive items for school – sneakers.  A well-fitting, proper sneaker not only boosts confidence but also allows children to fully participate in physical education classes and recess, contributing to overall health and well-being.  

Thank you for helping give a child a strong start to the school year.  While Homer Congregational Church coordinates the event, it truly is a county-wide outreach effort, and we could not host it without the support of the entire community.

  • We provided new sneakers, socks and underwear to 350 kids from grades Pre-K to 12th grade from all school districts of Cortland county.
  • For the 152 families, we provided shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, a packet of community resources, and snacks for school, including applesauce cups, fruit cups, goldfish crackers, and granola.
  • We provided an age-appropriate donated book to most of the registered children.

2024 Event Donors and Sponsors

  • Operation Warm
  • The Shoe Dept.
  • Seven Valleys Food Rescue
  • Breakfast Club, Cortland Rotary
  • Homer School District libraries
  • Friends of the Tompkins Co. Public Library
  • Cortland Area Retired Teachers Association
  • Dr. Matthew Dentes, DDS
  • Individual sponsors and donors from our community

Foot Measuring for Sneaker Sizes

We want to help kids get the right size sneaker! We encourage you to visit a local shoe store to have your child’s foot measured – or you can do so at home. If you have the ability to print, you can use the sizing guide below. Or watch the video about how to measure your child’s foot for sneakers with just a piece of paper and a ruler.

Printable Sizing Guide
Sizing Video

Registration

Registration is now closed. We will open registration for our 2025 event on July 1, 2025.

Sponsor a Child

Thank you to all of our 2024 sponsors!

Donate

Preparing for our event is a year-round process, and we welcome your donation at any time! Checks, payable to Homer Congregational Church, can be mailed with “Back to School PREP” in the memo line. Or donate online via Tithely and in the notes section, indicate “Back to School PREP.” Thank you for your support!

Donate