Nancy Calvird Shoe, Inc. Seeks Donations
The original fund was started in Chillicothe, Missouri as a memorial to Nancy Calvird, a victim of multiple sclerosis, who died in 1969 at the age of 27 after a long illness. Nancy had been a diabetic since she was 11 years old but she went through college and became a speech therapist and hearing consultant. Despite both diabetes and multiple sclerosis, she taught in public schools in Clinton, Missouri and Iowa until she became blind. She then moved to Chillicothe, where her mother, Jeanette Calvird, was the Director of the Livingston County Welfare Office.
Jeanette and Nancy were members of P.E.O. Chapter JW and her sisters knew of her concern for children. When Nancy passed away, Chapter JW asked for contributions to a shoe fund instead of flowers. This was done and the fund was established in January, 1970. Jeanette retired in 1975 and returned to Clinton and demitted to P.E.O. Chapter EN.
In the early 1980’s, Jeanette established another Nancy Calvird Memorial Shoe Fund, which Mary Robbins and Esther Tardino (a cousin of Jeanette) maintained the fund.
Due to health issues, Mary has requested that Chapter EN now maintain the fund.
The fund is maintained by donations from various organizations and individuals and will be used for the purchase of shoes for children in need attending the Clinton schools. Grades eligible will be pre-school through 12th grade. Requests for shoes for children should be made by contacting the social worker or counselor at the school where the child attends. Shoes are also given out at the Back to School Fair where in the last nine years we have given out more than 1,200 pairs of shoes. The look on the face of a child who has received their new pair of shoes is priceless.
Nancy Calvird Shoe Fund, Inc., has been designated a 501(C)3 corporation which may make your donation tax deductible.
If you wish to make a donation to the fund or in honor or memory of a loved one, please mail your check to the Treasurer, Kristi Kenney, at the address below. All contributions will be appreciated and used for our local children.
Board members of the fund are P.E.O. Chapter EN members:
President – Linda Griffith
Secretary – Jean Graham
Treasurer – Kristi Kenney, 2302 N. Antioch Street, Clinton, MO 64735
