Free Shoes for Low-Income Families

The information in this article is current as of March 9, 2022.

While the average American buys 7.5 pairs of shoes per year, there are a whopping 300 million people worldwide who cannot afford shoes. Shopping for shoes can get expensive, especially for families with children. Plus, kids outgrow and wear out their shoes quickly.

If you’re on a tight budget, you may qualify for free footwear through your community and local schools. There are many nonprofit organizations available that provide free shoes or sneakers to low-income families, children, and adults. Read on to learn more.

A Guide to Free Shoes and Sneakers for Low Income

This guide includes the following resources that provide free shoes and sneakers:

• Laces of Love
• It’s From the Soul
• My New Red Shoes
• No Cost Shoes for Diabetics
• Shoes for Kidz
• Shoes for the Homeless
• Shoes for School Foundation
• Shoes That Fit
• Souls4Souls

Laces of Love – Free Shoes for Children

Located in Naples, Florida, the Laces of Love Charitable Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides new shoes to low-income and disadvantaged children. Since 2005, Laces of Love has provided new shoes to over 250,000 kids in Southwest Florida.

Laces of Love works with local schools, shelters, organizations within the local Collier and Lee County areas. Teachers can request shoes for their students. However, this organization doesn’t offer shoes directly to families.

For questions or additional information, email Laces of Love at info@lacesoflove.org.

It’s From the Soul

Founded in New York City by Andre McDonnell, It’s From the Sole is a nonprofit organization that collects and gives shoes to homeless communities in New York and worldwide.

The organization has distributed more than 30,000 pairs of sneakers to the homeless and low-income individuals in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, San Antonio, Houston, Seattle, Jamaica, Colombia, Guyana, Paris, London, and more.

Visit the site to learn more.

My New Red Shoes – Free Shoes and Clothing for Kids

Since 2006, this San Francisco Bay-area organization has given shoes and clothing to more than 90,000 low-income and homeless children.

“We provide children with a sense of normalcy, belonging, and a boost of confidence by giving them new and properly fitting shoes and clothing for school,” says the My New Red Shoes website.

The My New Red Shoes Voucher Program offers nonprofit partners or recipient families vouchers. These vouchers let families shop online for new shoes and other necessities for their children.

For more information, please contact info@mynewredshoes.org.

No Cost Shoes for Diabetics

Twenty-four million people have diabetes, and 25% of diabetes will develop issues with their feet due to this disease. No Cost Shoes provides fashionable orthopedic shoes to help treat and prevent painful diabetic symptoms.

No Cost Shoes states that most insurance plans may cover the cost of one pair of diabetic shoes and three pairs of custom inserts per calendar year. Some restrictions may apply.

For more information, contact Quantum Medical at 866-923-2423 or email them at info@nocostshoes.com.

Shoes 4 Kidz

Shoes 4 Kidz is on a mission to provide one good pair of sneakers to every child who needs them.

Founder Myriah Volk says, “Shoes 4 Kids is about much more than shoes, as we see it. We live in a time when childhood obesity rates are high, and movement is at an all-time low. So a proper pair of athletic shoes is not only important for the growing body but the mind as well.”

Click here to request a pair of sneakers for a child in need or email shoes4kidz123@gmail.com.   

Shoes for the Homeless and Those in Need

Shoes for the Homeless is a nonprofit organization that collects and distributes free shoes to homeless people and those in need. This organization works with its partners to create a future where everyone has “the tools and confidence to take the next step in their lives.”

Shoes for the Homeless was founded by Dr. Ira Diamond, a retired Los Angeles podiatrist who has treated homeless individuals and low-income families for over 25 years. Throughout his career, Dr. Diamond witnessed many different issues that developed when people didn’t have adequate footwear or, worse, no shoes at all.

To learn more, visit the website or email the organization at info@shoesforthehomeless.net.

Shoes for School Foundation

Located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Shoes for School is a nonprofit that provides free pairs of new shoes to students of families struggling with school expenses.

According to Shoes for School’s founder, Chloe Rahming, “Our purpose is to alleviate some of the stress related to preparing your child, or children, for the new school year. Our promise at Shoes for School is to help as many struggling families as we can for as long as we can. Our goal is to empower the children of those families and shine a ray of hope and encouragement. “

The organization’s yearly goal is to supply a minimum of 2,500 shoe vouchers to students in grades K5-12 for the school year. To apply for a voucher, visit fsfoundation.com/apply-for-a-shoe-voucher.

Shoes That Fit

As the largest national organization of its kind, Shoes That Fit helps more than 100,000 children annually at more than 2,500 schools across the U.S.

Their mission is to “tackle one of the most visible signs of poverty in America by giving children in need new athletic shoes to attend school with dignity and joy, prepared to learn, play, and thrive.”

Thanks to partnerships with corporations and volunteer groups and individual donations, Shoes That Fit has given over 2.4 million pairs of new sneakers to school-aged kids across America.

Souls4Souls

Soles4Souls turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunities. This award-winning organization partners with women’s shelters, veterans’ organizations, children’s programs, and schools making sure shoes and clothing go to those who need them most

Soul4Souls is on a mission to reuse and recycle while putting sneakers to good use, providing relief, creating jobs, and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.

Save Money on Your Wireless Phone Service

Did you know that if you qualify for federal assistance, you may also qualify for Lifeline? Lifeline is a federal benefit program that allows low-income consumers to receive free or heavily discounted communication services. Click here to find out more and apply for this valuable benefit.