ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — To be given a few minutes to grab all the shoes you want is the dream of many women.

That dream came true for Jennifer Baumeister of Foley. She won an annual promotion at the Tanger Outlet Rack Room Shoe store, in which she had a few minutes to gather up all the shoes she could carry.

But, instead of scooping the shoes for her, Baumeister headed over to the children’s section of the store and gathered up children’s shoes.

“Who needs that many pair of shoes,” Baumeister asked in a telephone interview. She added that once the store employees realized what she was doing, they “threw in a whole bunch of socks.”

Baumeister donated the shoes to Family Promise. The organization, currently based in Robertsdale, provides temporary housing for distressed families in area churches.

“There were three shopping bags full,” said Mike Brokowski, the executive director of Family Promise. He said that the shoes would be treasured by the needy families that come to Family Promise.

“This is the perfect example of a giving heart,” said Brokowski, adding that he knows how much the female members of his family enjoy shoe-shopping.

In all Baumeister got about 18 pairs of athletic shoes for both boys and girls. According to Brokowski, when rent and food money is tight, buying shoes for youngsters “is not a priority.” He added the shoes will be treasured by youngsters who may not have had a new pair of shoes of their own.

“Often if the shoes are in good shape, they get handed down,” said Brokowski.

Baumeister was aware of Family Promise’s work, which allows a financially-strapped family a “breather” several weeks of rent-free living while they get caught up. Families served by Family Promise must be employed or able to be employed and actively looking for work. All in the family must pass a drug test, and a criminal background check is done. Families are provided with dinner, a continental breakfast, and the makings for bag lunches. They sleep in rooms provided by local churches, and somebody from the church must be on hand to supervise.

“I just wanted to be able to help,” said Baumeister.

According to Joel Talber, the district manager for Rack Room, “Every year we have a contest. She won two minutes to grab as may pairs of shoes as she could.”

Baumeister told the Rack Room employees what she was doing, and the employees, Talber said, prepared a “goodie bag” of kid-size socks.

Talber had waited on Baumeister before and knew her size. He grabbed a pair of shoes for her.

“This is the essence of what that time of year means, said Talber, referring to the Christmas season when the donation took place.

“It feels good to give.,” said Baumeister.