New Shoes, New Smiles
"The best part about the shoe giveaway is the expression on the children’s faces. They have so much excitement when trying on the new shoes.” Sharon Mack, case manager at The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps has been a part of this annual summer tradition for years and has seen thousands of kids experience the joy of new shoes. “To see them realize they get to leave with the shoes – it’s priceless!”
The Back-to-School Giveaway at Fountain Square has become a community event for Indianapolis children over the years. It marks the end of summer and gets children excited for the start of a new school year. For children like Liam, who came to the Back-to-School Giveaway in July, the event is something he looks forward to every year. In 2024, he was one of 200 local children who participated in the program.
“The giveaway has a significant impact each year because it helps relieve some of the financial burden off our families,” explained Sharon. “So many are struggling to provide the basics for their families. Preparing children for school is an added cost that many cannot afford.”
The Salvation Army partners with a local Shoe Carnival store to supply a variety of shoes and socks for school-aged children. Together with their families, the kids have an opportunity to “shop” for the right size, color, and style of shoes for the first day of school. After finding the perfect shoes, each child heads to another part of the building to pick out a backpack filled with school supplies like paper, pencils, and folders.
The Salvation Army works with Indianapolis Public Schools and local agencies to identify families with the greatest need to ensure they can be a part of this back-to-school ministry. Children participating in The Salvation Army’s summer camp programs and those currently living at the Ruth Lilly Women and Children’s Center are also fitted with new shoes for the school year.
Programs like the Back-to-School Giveaway are often made possible by very special donors who have stepped up to fill specific needs in the community. This initiative has been an annual tradition thanks to a long-time donor, Laura Lewis, who supported The Salvation Army for almost thirty years. Mrs. Lewis grew up in poverty and did not own a new pair of shoes until she was an adult, so her goal was to help children in similar circumstances experience the joy and dignity of new shoes. Though Mrs. Lewis has sadly passed away, she continues to impact lives through the program and the thousands of happy children she helped.
Check out photos from the 2024 Back-to-School Giveaway on Flickr HERE.