A Better Way

 
She knew she was wrong, but did it anyway. My friends know I work for Shoes That Fit and love the idea of helping kids get new shoes for school. Some of them, I discovered, go a little too far. My friend Mel is always on the lookout for kids with nasty looking shoes, hoping she can intervene and provide a new pair of athletic shoes for a kid whose family can’t afford them for whatever reason. Mel can be a little pushy, so while in the grocery store, she tells me she spotted a kid who was running around in really awful shoes—holes everywhere, discolored, no shoe strings. She stopped him and asked him if he’d like a new pair of shoes for school, and he looked very confused. As soon as she started this conversation, an adult stepped up and introduced herself as his mother. Mel told her about Shoes That Fit and she was insulted. Mel has learned her lesson!
 
And that brings me to this point: our school programs are structured so that the schools choose kids most in need, not us, nor does the public come to our door for the simple reason that we can’t really tell who’s in need just by looking. If you really want to help children who really need help, start a program here with us. We’ll help you find a school with kids who need and desperately want new shoes, and they and they’re family will be grateful. I promise.