Clay County Students Receive 800 Pairs of New Shoes Through Statewide Donation Program

MANCHESTER, Ky. — Hundreds of Clay County students are stepping into fall with brand-new shoes thanks to the generosity of county leaders from across Kentucky.
The Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association (KMCA), headquartered in Frankfort, delivered over 800 pairs of new shoes to Clay County Schools on Wednesday, Oct. 22, beginning distribution at Big Creek Elementary School before expanding to the entire district
The annual KMCA Children’s Shoe Drive, now in its 11th year, is entirely funded by personal donations from magistrates and commissioners across the Commonwealth. Since its founding, the program has provided more than 7,000 pairs of shoes to students statewide
“The membership of the association donates new shoes for children and contributes money directly from their own wallets,” said JC Young, Executive Director of the KMCA. “One of our goals is to help dissolve insecurities for students—if a new pair of shoes can make even one child feel more confident, then it’s worth it.”
The KMCA Board of Directors selected Clay County as this year’s recipient based on factors including community need, location, and member participation.
Clay County Magistrate Sonya Hoskins Gray, who helped bring the program home, said she was humbled to see the impact firsthand.
“It’s a big deal for our association to choose Clay County, and I am humbled,” Gray said. “Anytime you help a child, you help your community. Today I saw children’s faces light up as they picked out shoes for themselves—it was beautiful to watch.”
KMCA President Rich Liebe, a Christian County Magistrate, said the effort is about more than just shoes.
“If you look at the kids’ faces, they just light up,” Liebe said. “We’re not just giving shoes—we’re making memories that will last a lifetime.”
Family Resource Directors with the Clay County Board of Education will handle the distribution of the remaining shoes to schools across the district to ensure they reach students most in need.
“Anytime we can get donations like these, it’s a huge relief for our family resource centers,” said Jennifer Crockett with the Clay County Board of Education. “Whether it’s shoes, clothes, or food drives, these contributions mean the world to our families.”
Clay County Superintendent William Sexton expressed appreciation for the donation.
“Many students will benefit from these shoes, and we couldn’t be more appreciative,” Sexton said.
Founded in 1952, the Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association represents all 563 elected county magistrates and commissioners across the state. Members from the Clay County Fiscal Court include Magistrates Jerry Combs, Sonny Gay, Sonya Hoskins Gray, Russell Smith, Chris Smith, and Bill Warren