PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - For the 5th year, the Sunrise Kiwanis of Port Charlotte are hoping to put new sneakers on the feet of thousands of county school kids.

The program, which runs through July 27th, collected 4,300 pairs last year at drop-off sites all over the county but this year the donations are running a little low.

So far, only 750 pairs have been turned in.

"The economy is tough," says Margie Luckhardt of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Englewood. While that may affect the amount of sneakers turned in, it also affects the need for new shoes. But Luckhardt is confident parishioners at her church will do their part. "Our parishioners have been very generous," she says, "and they usually are very giving with these kids of things. And since the first four years (of this program) have been successful, we just keep doing it."

The shoes have to be new sneakers and kid-sized but they don't need to be top-of-the-line models. "They can be inexpensive," says Arlene Macken, the church's office manager. "The sneakers are important because they need to have them for physical education. But they don't have to be the best."

There are 58 drop-off sites around Charlotte County.

For more information, call 941-637-5611 or check out the Charlotte Sun's website at http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/nfstory.aspx?code=144.