After spending time in Shamattawa over the summer, Courtney Engel wanted to find a way to help. Now, she has just sent a number of boots up north.

Engel is a senior at Providence University College and recently named an All-American in NCCAA soccer. Over the past summer, she spent time in Shamattawa doing a soccer camp and noticed a need for good winter boots.

After partnering with a few churches over the past month, Engel was able to send 140 pairs of boots by plane to Shamattawa on Wednesday.

"I know [they] are getting a lot colder," Engel said. "I'm just really happy that the kids up there can have boots when school is over on Christmas break."

Oasis Community Church and Fort Garry Mennonite Brethren Church were collection points for the drive and managed to gather 124 pairs of gently used boots. Then Snow Lake Church made a donation, which allowed Engel to buy new winter boots and bring the total up to 140.

"We are thankful to Perimeter Airlines for reducing the shipping cost to almost nothing to send up the 14 boxes of [boots] as well as hats and mitts," Engel said.

Engel hasn't heard back from the people in Shamattawa yet but is very excited to see what the response of the children will be.