Shoe Buddy provides more than 300 pairs of shoes to children

During this year’s shoe drive, Shoe Buddy donated 329 pairs of shoes to kids in Ellis County – the most shoes the organization has ever donated in a single year.

Shoe Buddy, founded in 2010 by Melveene Dixon, provides new shoes to kids in need for the new school year. Dixon founded the organization to honor the memory of her father, Buddy Gibson. Dixon recalls her father speaking often of his desire to provide children in need with a pair of shoes that fit.

Shoe Buddy partners with Waxahachie Care, Ellis County Children’s Advocacy Center, Texas Baptist Home for Children, CASA of Ellis County, Presbyterian Children’s Home and Services, and Common Ground Ministries. These local organizations provide Shoe Buddy with the number of children who need new shoes, and Shoe Buddy provides them with vouchers. While these organizations meet a variety of needs for the children and their families, Shoe Buddy aims to boost a child’s confidence.

“This is more about a kid’s confidence and making them feel like they’re everybody else in a good way,” Julia Fearis, administrator for Shoe Buddy, said. “We’ve read all these studies about how when you are satisfied with what you’re wearing your confidence skyrockets. Imagine going to school with shoes that don’t fit, and you think that you’re a loser and not special, then getting a new pair of shoes. It’s the least we can do.”

Children and their parents visit Famous Footwear Waxahachie during the shoe drive, choose a pair of shoes up to $80 in value, and present their voucher for payment.

Shoe Buddy volunteers, from H-E-B, Waxahachie Junior Service League, other individuals and Dixon’s family, are located throughout the store to help them with the entire process. They measure the child’s foot and help them find the perfect style shoe for them.

“A lot of the kids don’t even know their shoe size,” Fearis said. “They’re still wearing their shoes from last year, and they’re clearly too small. A lot of the kids have never had a new pair of shoes. It’s a very humbling experience to work with them.”

Fearis described one interaction from this year’s shoe drive. A young boy, about 4 years old, kept putting on shoes, and with every pair of shoes, he would ask, “These new shoes? These brand-new shoes?” like he couldn’t believe it was true. Last year, Dixon shared with the Sun that she would be stepping down from overseeing Shoe Buddy, with her family, children and grandchildren, stepping into those roles of fundraising and organizing shoe distribution. While Dixon is no longer in the driver’s seat, she is still involved in an advisory role.

“I’m not backing out,” Dixon previously told the Sun. “I’ll have my finger in the pie as long as I’m around.”

Over the past year, her family, including Fearis, has worked hard to make Dixon’s dream sustainable for the long-term. They are officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which opens the doors to different donations and grants. They’ve also made small organizational improvements to strengthen their relationships with partner organizations and Famous Footwear Waxahachie and to strengthen their record keeping.

Famous Footwear Waxahachie has worked with Shoe Buddy, giving them a discounted rate on shoes, which in turn allows them to purchase more children new shoes. Famous Footwear also recommended changing the shoe drive from Monday-Thursday one week to Mondays and Tuesdays over two weeks. This change allows Famous Footwear to restock before the second wave of kids come in, so they can have a wide selection of shoes to choose from.

“We can give away that many more vouchers when we’re paying less per shoe,” Fearis said.

Fearis said the main thing the family is working on for Shoe Buddy is a way for donors to give money online. While this year was their “learning year,” Fearis said 2024 is Shoe Buddy’s “growing year.”

Shoe Buddy will be participating in North Texas Giving Day on Sept. 21.

To make a donation, mail a check to P.O. Box 758 or email donations@shoebuddy.org. For more information or to volunteer, visit https://www.shoebuddy.org/ or follow @ShoeBuddy on Facebook.

Originally published August 21, 2023 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/arts_and_entertainment/shoe-buddy-provides-more-than-300-pairs-of-shoes-to-children/article_850ae89a-404e-11ee-84ba-d33dcb100d2a.html