Group to give 1,000 shoes to Fort Wayne students

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - A non-profit group that collects new shoes for needy people around the world is planning to give away new athletic shoes and socks to about 1,000 students from Fort Wayne Community Schools.

The giveaway by the humanitarian group Samaritan's Feet is being sponsored by Indianapolis-based engineering company Performance Services. The Office Depot Foundation is donating basic school supplies for each child.

Samaritan's Feet says it organized the event because many families face the new school year with anxiety because of today's tough economic times. The group says the event is the last of the 87 domestic distributions planned around the start of the school year. It says about 41,000 children received new shoes and socks through the program.