The goal is simple: Get new athletic shoes to kids experiencing homelessness. All 1.5 million of them in the U.S.
Homelessness has long been a problem in the U.S., and the pandemic has made it worse. Communities of color are especially affected by the ongoing economic fallout, and a looming eviction crisis threatens millions more families.
Why give shoes to kids without homes?
- While many organizations are focused on the critical needs of food and shelter, school officials tell us shoes are essential for students to succeed in school.
- Schools receive only $50 per student experiencing homelessness to facilitate enrollment, attendance, and success in school. With other critical needs, schools cant afford to buy shoes.
- Without a good pair of shoes, kids feel embarrassed, discouraged, or left out simply because they lack something most of us take for granted.