Golden Plains Insurance’s agency motto is “Prepared for the future.” As an independent agency serving Colorado, this motto goes hand-in-hand with the mission of their nonprofit partner, Share the Spirit Foundation: “To provide new shoes and socks to underserved children.” By offering a personalized shopping experience, where a committed volunteer assists each child with choosing their very own pair of new shoes, Share the Spirit fulfills a child’s basic necessity while also nurturing their independence, pride and self-esteem.
“At Golden Plains Insurance, we strive to serve not only our customers but the communities in which we provide services. Working with Share the Spirit Foundation has enabled us to fulfill our philanthropic goals to give back to the community and personally see the difference a new pair of shoes makes in a child’s life,” said Emily Palmer, agent with Golden Plains Insurance.
The agency provides funding through sponsorships and monetary donations, and agents attend ongoing “Shoes for Kids” events in addition to being on-call to help immediate need requests and holiday giving programs. Agents help load in a truck, set up a room just like a shoe store with stacks of shoes and rows of chairs, and stock shoes for mobile events in smaller communities – handing out snacks, high fives and encouragement to participants. By providing new shoes, we are helping raise a child’s spirits and giving their growing bodies the support they need to face everyday life.
Recently a Golden Plains Insurance agent helped a young man who was wearing a size 10 shoe, with the soles cut to make extra room for his feet, as well as quarter-sized holes on top where his toes stuck out. When he arrived that day, his chin was on his chest and his eyes were down. After the volunteer talked with him and sized his foot, they realized he was much larger than the size 10 he was wearing and helped him pick out a sturdy and good-looking size 13. Leaving the room, the young man’s shoulders straightened, and he walked out with his head held high.
Earning $10,000 from the Make More Happen Awards would help Golden Plains Insurance and Share the Spirit Foundation fund a “Shoes for Kids” this fall to provide 300 children with shoes across 14 area schools, improving their physical ability and social interaction just in time for back-to-school. Vote for Golden Plains Insurance Agency to give kids the self-esteem, dignity and happiness that new shoes provide!
