Grocer gives shoes for needy kids

Apparently donating 120 turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas was not the end of the Garden Fresh Market owners' goodwill this year.

The family-owned grocery store chain jumped onboard the Mundelein Police Department's holiday help program and provided 100 pairs of gym shoes for families in need over the holiday weekend.

“A lot of times kids aren't always looking for toys,” said Mundelein Police Chief Raymond Rose. “They are looking for things they need.”

This idea seemed to come to the owner of the grocery store's wife when she saw a shoe clearance sale before the holiday season.

“She told them if they were able to come up with a good deal, she wanted to do this.” Rose said. “She bought them all.”

In total, the store donated 200 pairs of New Balance shoes spread out to the Arlington Heights, Round Lake Beach and Mundelein police departments to donate to needy children.

The Mundelein Police Department worked alongside the Girl Scouts and Mundelein After School Coalition to deliver the shoes and turkeys to families.

Rose said Mundelein schools help the department identify students in the school in need.

“This becomes significant because when you start to look at kids in school with their shoes all torn and tattered, it makes them different,” Rose said. “They are not the outcast anymore and don't feel uncomfortable in school.”

Rose estimated Garden Fresh Market had donated more than $1,200 worth of goods to the community through his department.

“They decided they were going to do it, and they did it,” he said.