Step It Up Program delivers free shoes to 970 U-46 students

Elgin Elks Lodge 737 partnered with First Baptist Church on Aug. 7-8 for the Step It Up Program.

The annual donation program, held at Elgin’s First Baptist Church, gave away 970 pairs of free back-to-school shoes to students of Elgin Area Unit School District U-46.

The Elgin Elks shopped for and donated 210 pairs, spending $8,100 of “Focus Grant” money the lodge received from Elks National.

The members shopped for shoes in July at Shoe Carnival in South Elgin, getting a 20% discount from the retailer.