CCLP/LYNETTE SOWELL - Rows of shoes are lined up inside the Mission Casa building on Casa Drive in preparation for the church’s inaugural Shoozapalooza, to be held on August 6 from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.CCLP LYNETTE SOWELL - Jerry Smith talks about the upcoming Shoozapalooza being held CCLP LYNETTE SOWELL on August 6 at Mission Casa.

Mission Casa holding first Shoozapalooza

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
 
With the start of school less than a month away, Mission Casa has been preparing for an event for the children of the Casa Drive, Horseshoe Drive, Sunset Lane and Georgetown Road neighborhoods.
 
The small church, a ministry of Refuge Ministries, is holding its first Shoozapalooza, with the major emphasis being a pair of new shoes for every child in those areas.
 
Jerry Smith, the pastor of the church, said they have also received pastoral referrals from other churches in Copperas Cove.
 
“That’s any pastor. we’re not just keeping it within our ministry,” Smith said. “St. Martin’s Episcopal Church has donated shoes. Mother Paulette Magnuson was definitely supportive. In fact, she said she has more shoes for me to come get.”
 
He aid the men’s group from Southern Hills has donated the food and will be cooking hotdogs on Saturday, and Crestview Christian Church has donated school supplies that will be given away.
 
So far, Mission Casa has 90 pairs of new shoes to give away and is trying to gather more before next Saturday, August 6, when Shoozapalooza will be held from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
 
Smith emphasized that the shoes the children will receive are new.
 
“If we give people this as a gift from the church, something used, in my mind, we’re saying Christ doesn’t have anything better for you. We want to give our best.”
 
Smith said got the idea from something a Missouri pastor did at his church in Marshville, Missouri, which has grown over the years.
 
“But he said the first year, they only got 10 pair,” Smith said.
 
When the children arrive for Shoozapalooza, they will each be given a Refuge Ministries tote bag, which they can fill with donated school supplies to include the basics like paper, pencils and composition books. They’ll get to pick out a pair of new shoes.
 
“We’re also going to have some games where the kids can also win school supplies as prizes,” Smith said.
 
A stylist from Super-Cuts is going to be giving free haircuts and the store also donated 10 coupons for free haircuts that day, in the event there is a lineup to see the stylist at Mission Casa.
 
One of my goals is to make it a community event next time. This is the first year we’ve done shoes. we’ve done school supplies in the past. it’s pretty cool to be able to connect with the people in the neighborhood.”
 
If there are any shoes not given away after Shoozapalooza, Smith said the plans are to donate the remaining shoes to CCISD students via Communities

 

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