Cooper Creek United Methodist Church is asking area residents to lend a hand by helping put shoes on children’s feet.

The church, at 5209 Mingo Road in Denton, will hold its 10th annual Sneaker Sunday tomorrow to raise money that will be used to purchase shoes for children in need.

Members hope to make Sunday’s event the most successful effort ever. They have planned a silent auction, cakewalk and live music, with the fun starting at noon and ending at 4 p.m.

Following the morning worship service, hamburgers and hot dogs will be served until 3 p.m., and the silent auction will continue until 3:30 p.m. Other activities will include a children’s book walk and activity booths for the youngsters.

Karen Williams, lay leader at Cooper Creek, told us that members collect between $2,000 and $3,000 during a typical Sneaker Sunday fundraiser, but their hope is to surpass that total this year.

That’s quite a goal for this small congregation. But size doesn’t limit the members’ desire to serve, Walter Laney, church council chairman told us. The church tries to carry out a mission project every month, and a visit to the church’s Web site reflects the commitment by proclaiming “Cooper Creek United Methodist Church, the Little Church with a Big Heart.”

We like that sentiment and we applaud the effort that church members are making to meet community needs. The church is working with Interfaith Ministries of Denton, a United Way agency that provides emergency financial assistance. Each year, Interfaith Ministries participates in the Apple Tree project, which provides school supplies, backpacks, clothing and shoes for the children of low-income families.

The need may be greater than many realize. The economic slowdown has put a crimp in just about every family’s budget, and many area residents are struggling to make ends meet.

Funding shoes might seem like a small step to take in helping alleviate the economic crisis, but getting a new pair can be a real boost for a child who faces the prospect of starting school without the proper clothing.

Garden told us that it takes about $25,000 to give gift cards to help 1,000 children, which is the organizations’ goal each year. Money raised during Cooper Creek’s Sneaker Sunday and other donations are used to buy gift cards from Payless ShoeSource. Gift cards are used because shoe sizes can change rapidly.

Any parent knows that, so it stands to reason that a lot of kids are going to need new shoes when classes get under way again this fall.

What better way to help than to support Cooper Creek’s event tomorrow? There will be plenty of old-fashioned fun, and the silent auction will offer such items as tickets to Texas Motor Speedway and other area entertainment and sports venues, sports memorabilia, restaurant and spa gift cards and much more.

Cooper Creek normally holds Sneaker Sunday in July, but the event was scheduled a little earlier this year in hopes that the weather would be cooler.

Oh, well, the forecast may not be cooperating, but we’re sure supporters will brave the heat to help.