In 2024, parents expect to pay over $170 for their children’s back-to-school shoes.

As it is, shoes and sneakers are very expensive for families in poverty. When they consistently weigh hard decisions such as paying for groceries vs. paying the electric bill that month, buying new sneakers or shoes for their children is not always an option.

Since children grow out of their sneakers so frequently, it also makes it very difficult for families to keep up with the expense.

Many of our students wear shoes that do not fit, are not appropriate for the current weather or are worn down so much they have holes or detached soles.

How we step in to meet this need

Collecting gently used sneakers is very challenging for our organization since we all typically wear our shoes out before they can be donated, but we still understand how critical a good, reliable pair of sneakers is to our students’ overall success.

A solid, well-fitting pair of sneakers allows children to feel a sense of belonging among their peers and worry less about the way they look, which in turn empowers them to focus on school and get outside to play and learn.

This means we rely heavily on new sneaker donations to ensure our students are clothed with dignity and confidence from their heads down to their toes.

You can step in, too! Join our ninth annual Fill the Bus initiative to help us collect sneakers for the new school year.

Host a sneaker drive with your personal circle of friends and family, entire community, or at your company.

This is a simple yet powerful way to make a big difference in the lives of so many students in need.

We will send you all of the materials needed in order to host a successful drive.

View our shoe room and hear our President, Anne-Marie Sousa, talk about our need for sneakers and the opportunity to host a sneaker drive.

Interested in getting started? Click here to contact us.

Register for our fourth annual Every Step of the Way virtual 5K.

Your $30 registration funds the purchase of a brand new pair of sneakers for a child in need. You can run, walk, hike, bike, or move however you please to get your 3.1 miles in.

Participate as an individual, family, organization, or company. Fundraising opportunities are available in our 5K platform to fund even more pairs of sneakers for students.

Our Every Step of the Way 5K is a great opportunity to get active while making a difference.