Thanks to a partnership between two Newark nonprofits, every homeless child in Delaware will receive a new pair of shoes this year.
Shoes that Fit and the Friends of Fusion Foundation teamed up to raise $144,000, enough to provide shoes to more than 4,800 kids.
“It’s amazing because you realize what the impact is to those kids,” said Joanne Glauser, who has headed the Delaware chapter of Shoes that Fit for 26 years.
Shoes that Fit was founded in California in 1992 and now has chapters in all 50 states. Last year, it helped nearly 165,000 kids nationwide. Through partnerships with shoe companies, the nonprofit pays $30 for each pair of name-brand sneakers.
Glauser, with help from her husband John, coordinates local fundraising and works with each school district’s on-staff homeless advocate to identify the students in need of shoes. The national organization then ships the shoes directly to the kids’ schools.
Over the years, Glauser has given out an average of 1,500 pairs of shoes each year, but she was looking for a partner to help expand that and also make sure the effort continued.
“I’m five years away from retirement. It can’t die with me,” she said. “That’s why I needed to reach out and hope that other people get involved.”
Enter the Friends of Fusion Foundation. The nonprofit was founded in 2019 as an offshoot of Fusion Racing and the former Fusion Fitness gym. Each year, it gives grants to organizations that support kids or first responders.
Jeffrey Leggett, president of the foundation, said the organization was looking for a more tangible project it could work on when he heard about Shoes that Fit. Because Friends of Fusion is supported by runners, a shoe-related cause just made sense.
“Runners, we use our sneakers for 400 to 500 miles, and then it’s time for new pair. These kids don’t have anything,” Leggett said. “What we can do for them, there’s no better feeling in the world.”
He originally set a goal of raising $30,000 to give shoes to every homeless kid in New Castle County. He later increased it to $100,000 to expand the effort statewide. Grants, corporate donations and fundraisers combined to exceed that goal and raise $144,000.
“It makes me feel good that we still have people who care in Delaware,” Glauser said.
She said the number of homeless kids in Delaware fluctuates, and this year, she gave out 2,400 pairs of shoes. The extra money will be used in future years and to open two shoe banks that will stock an inventory of shoes for emergency distribution.
“It’’s going to be a game changer,” Glauser said.
This is the first time in Shoes that Fit’s history that any chapter has been able to provide shoes to every homeless kid in a particular state.
“The cool thing is this could be accomplished here in Delaware,” Leggett said, adding that Delaware’s small size made it an achievable goal. “Other states, probably not.”
While homeless kids have many needs, Glauser explained that kids who have old or ill-fitting shoes can often feel embarrassed or judged by other students.
“It’s a visible sign of poverty that makes them feel bad about going to school and makes them feel lesser than their peers,” Glauser said.
Getting a new pair of shoes can provide a sense of comfort and help kids fit in.
“It’s one of many obstacles that we’re just trying to help them get over,” Glauser said. “They think, ‘Oh, wow, where’d this come from? Somebody must really think I’m valuable.”
Local schools reported to the organization that many students who received new shoes saw improvements in attendance, academic performance and behavior.
“Your donation made a significant difference in the lives of our students, providing them with not only the necessary footwear but also a sense of comfort and confidence as they navigate their daily activities,” Kimberly Jackson, a social worker at Downes Elementary, wrote in a letter to Glauser. “The students were extremely excited when they received their sneakers and socks.”
Erin Costello Fahnoe, a social worker at Shue-Medill Middle School, reported similar success.
“Students receiving the shoes were surprised and thrilled,” Fahnoe wrote. “One sixth grader immediately kicked off his sneakers to plop down and wear his new ‘kicks.’ Another young lady has worn hers every single day and makes sure to show them off to anyone and everyone. Thank you to your generous donors for bringing some sunshine and pride to these students who are experiencing some hardships.”
For more information or to donate, visit shoesthatfit.org.
-Josh Shannon, Newark Post
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