NORTH AUGUSTA --- A national organization is protesting a church-sponsored shoe giveaway program in some schools in Aiken and Edgefield counties, saying it violates the legal separation of church and state.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent letters Tuesday urging the school systems in Edgefield and Aiken counties to end their involvement with Laces 4 Love, a First Baptist Church of North Augusta ministry that provides about 12,000 pairs of shoes to disadvantaged pupils.

"You just can't allow a religious group to carry on what it sees as a ministry of its church inside of a public school," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, the executive director of Americans United.

Laces 4 Love has provided shoes to pupils for six years. Shoes are being delivered this week to pupils in 25 schools in both counties.

Each year, organizers ask school officials for lists of needy children. Once children are identified, the organization sends letters to parents asking permission to give shoes to them.

The Rev. Lynn said a member of his organization informed him about Laces 4 Love after an article about the ministry appeared in the Nov. 28 edition of North Augusta Today, a weekly newspaper published by Morris Communications Co. LLC, the parent company of The Augusta Chronicle.

In the article, ministry founder Mark Owens said volunteers remove the children's old shoes and wash their feet, as Jesus did for his disciples at Passover.

The Rev. Gary C. Redding, the senior pastor of North Augusta First Baptist, said the church would have no comment until he had an opportunity to investigate the claims.

Americans United contends in a news release that requiring pupils to participate in a religious ritual or the distribution of "any religious message" as a condition of receiving the shoes is "constitutionally problematic" for the school systems. The group also said schools cannot facilitate ministry operations, provide names of needy children, play host to "shoe-fittings and foot-washings" or promote "the ministry's activities."

Bill Gallman, the interim superintendent of Aiken County schools, said he received a letter from Americans United and was preparing a response. He said proselytizing and foot-washing by ministry volunteers was not permitted, though students were provided sanitary wipes to clean their feet before being given new shoes.

Response to the letters from the school systems was expected by the end of business Tuesday. The Rev. Lynn said litigation was possible if an acceptable response was not made.

After consulting legal counsel, school administrators and church officials, Dr. Gallman said he believed no breach of federal or state laws occurred.

"I am confident that neither our school district nor this program are in any way violating state or federal laws or the First Amendment establishment and free exercise clause(s)," he said.

Edgefield County schools Superintendent Mary Rice Crenshaw said she was unaware of the protest until called by a Chronicle reporter. She did not immediately return follow-up calls seeking comment.