The Kiwanis Club of Niles is beginning its second year of collecting and distributing boots for children through elementary schools in Brandywine, Buchanan and Niles districts. The program works through informal relationships within the schools to identify children in need of winter boots.

Last year, the club provided 76 pairs of boots to children and expects the need to be greater as the program expands and economy remains depressed. The club is asking for community support by dropping off new winter boots, children sizes 11-13 and adult sizes 1-4, to Brown Funeral Home, 521 E. Main St., Niles.

Brown Funeral Home has agreed to be a community collection point and has taken an additional step in pledging to match one pair of boots for each pair donated.

“This program fits Kiwanis’ goal of helping children, serve the community and partner with existing resources,” said Mike Cameron, president of the Kiwanis Club. “Utilizing the club’s resources and working with area schools maximizes the effort to reach children who really need winter boots.”

Tim Brown, owner of Brown Funeral Home said: “Our commitment to the community and Kiwanis’ ability to fill needs created an ideal match just making sense.”

Anyone interested in donating new winter boots to the program can drop boots off at Brown Funeral Home through Dec. 17.