VERMILION PARISH — Nearly 400 students at Eaton Park Elementary in Abbeville received brand-new shoes Friday morning as part of a community partnership aimed at supporting children in need.

Volunteers from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Healthy Blue Louisiana and other local organizations teamed up with Operation Warm, a national nonprofit that provides clothing and shoes to children.

Students were able to pick out, try on and be fitted for their new shoes before returning to class with footwear to take home.

Eaton Park Principal Amber Wine said the giveaway had an immediate impact on her students.

“They are getting a pair of shoes and it makes them feel important,” Wine said. “It makes them not have to focus on, ‘I can’t participate in PE today because I don’t have shoes tod

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