We Bring Relief
Since our founding in 2010, Shoes 4 the Shoeless has delivered brand-new gym shoes and socks to disadvantaged children within Southwest Ohio through our in-school delivery program. The need is still great, so our work continues.
Will you help us?
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Children Served in 20250
Ohio Counties0
SchoolsOur Story
It Starts Like Most Stories Out There
A few people recognized an overwhelming need and had to do something about it. Since then, countless volunteers and donors have stepped up to meet one of the biggest unmet health care needs for children in poverty.
Our shoes and socks bring relief, hope, encouragement, and comfort to local children in desperate need. With your help, we can make a difference!
Making a Meaningful ImpactThe Need Is Great.
The Need Is Great.
The Opportunity Is Greater.
In 2025, Shoes 4 The Shoeless served 21,000+ children with brand new shoes and socks. However, across our 21-county footprint, we estimate that 72,000 children are still in need.
That means we are currently reaching about 30% of the need.
Together, we can close the gap.
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Children Served in 20250
School & Community Partners0
Ohio Counties Served Across Our RegionGet to Know Us
It Takes a TEAM
To deliver thousands of shoes each year, it takes incredible planning and coordination. Get to know our Staff Team, our Board of Directors, and our Greater Cincinnati Advisory Council.
What's Going On?
Wondering what we've been up to lately?
Year-round we stay busy hosting events all over the Miami Valley and Greater Cincinnati area. If you would like to keep up with us and see our mission in action, be sure to follow us on our social spaces!
🚨WE NEED VOLUNTEERS! 🚨![]()
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BeTempered is proud to partner with Shoes 4 the Shoeless for a special event in Fayette County on Saturday, September 19 at the Connersville High School Fieldhouse.![]()
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There is a tremendous need in Connersville right now, and we are looking for 80–100 volunteers to help us serve families in the community.![]()
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📍 Connersville High School Fieldhouse![]()
1100 Spartan Dr.![]()
Connersville, IN 47331![]()
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🕘 Volunteers arrive at 9:00 AM![]()
👟 Event runs from 10:00 AM–2:00 PM![]()
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Sometimes serving starts with something as simple as showing up. A few hours of your time can make a real difference for a child or family who is walking through a difficult season.![]()
👉 Please use the sign-up link below to volunteer.![]()
www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C49A4AB23A64-65246252-disaster![]()
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We would love to see our community come together in a big way for Connersville. Let’s show up, serve, and help meet the need.![]()
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#betempered #podcast #faith #fyp #volunteering #fayettecounty #flooding #ServingFamilies #ServingHumanity
Preparing for our disaster relief trip to Indiana is progressing well! At the same time, we are meeting emergency needs closer to home for shoes/socks so children can start school.![]()
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S4TS meets one of the most basic needs of children living in hard times. But there are a handful of other needs that must be met too so they can flourish as they should.![]()
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We are talking about the basics: food, clothing (shoes/socks), shelter, safety. Unless those are met, nothing else matters.![]()
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Over the years, we have developed strong partnerships with our colleagues in both health care and education. We rely on these relationships to direct as many resources as we can to the children we serve. They need all the help they can get.![]()
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We will soon see these partnerships come together to serve our neighbors in Indiana.![]()
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We will see these partnerships come together throughout the year to help bring relief to children across the 21 counties we serve.![]()
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Stay with us, please. Seeing what we see is good for your heart.![]()
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#goodnessandmercy
We are making quick progress on our relief trip to Connersville, Indiana. Take a look at these pictures from last night, and you will understand our desire to help.![]()
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We are working with the Superintendent of Fayette County schools, one of the highest-need communities in Indiana.![]()
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The damage is devastating; the needs are tremendous.![]()
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By Tuesday, we should have a better idea of what we can bring along, other than shoes and socks, and our date.![]()
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Please stay tuned. Our community has never let us down in times of disaster. We are confident and excited about helping.![]()
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You all are the best. Stay tuned.![]()
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#goodnessandmercy
We are working together with our friends/partners in Preble and Darke counties to bring relief to our neighbors in Indiana. It is raining there again today, with no relief in sight.![]()
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We have an excellent disaster relief process that has proven itself in Texas, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Dayton (during the Memorial Day tornadoes).![]()
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We will let you know how you can help as things develop.![]()
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For now, know that churches, local businesses, and other groups are leading the way in taking care of one another. Just as after our own tornadoes, by the time national organizations arrive on the ground, much work will already have been done. ![]()
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We care about our neighbors where we come from, and will do the work to prove it.![]()
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Stay with us, please.![]()
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#goodnessandmercy
School attendance matters.![]()
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Running, jumping, climbing, and playing during recess and PE class matters too.![]()
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We know this.![]()
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When we began in 2010, we did NOT know how many children were not starting school at the beginning of the year due to a lack of appropriate shoes.![]()
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We did NOT know how many were never allowed in PE class because they did not have gym shoes.![]()
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We did NOT know how many were not participating in recess for the same reason.![]()
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We did know that thousands of children in our own backyards did not have shoes that fit or were fit to wear.![]()
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Physical, social, and emotional development of children requires movement. The work of kids is play. We also knew that.![]()
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Every August since 2010, we have devoted considerable time to providing shoes/socks to children in these categories. Just today, we helped over 50 children in the area so they could start their first day of school next week, play at recess, and participate in PE class.![]()
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By the way, house slippers, snow boots, and flip-flops do not count as shoes for school. Most schools do not allow children wearing these to participate in PE class.![]()
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#theworkofkidsisplay ![]()
#healthneed
Why does it take over 700 volunteers each month to keep S4TS running to the neediest children in our region? ![]()
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Because we only help children if we give them shoes that actually fit.![]()
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We spent our first few years comparing the sizes we gave children to the sizes their caregivers requested, or the sizes the children themselves requested. Based on years of data, we know that at least 70% of the time, those sizes were not even close.![]()
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The only way to give children shoes that fit is to measure their feet and then try on shoes until a great fit is found. This should be common sense; after all, this is how we buy shoes for our own children or ourselves.![]()
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It also matters that they love their shoes, so we transport a variety of styles and colors so they have options.![]()
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Our process takes time and an army of volunteers willing to meet us at a school from 8:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. and work with children one-on-one.![]()
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But there is more. ![]()
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Our volunteers pour love, kindness, and attention on each child they serve. They take their time, have fun, and share in the excitement a child feels about new shoes/socks.![]()
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This dose of love is like medicine to many children who are not getting enough in their lives.![]()
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In 2011, we set the national standard in meeting one of the biggest, unmet health care needs for children living in hard times.![]()
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We are set to begin our school season and need many more volunteers to join our team.![]()
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If you are interested in doing something amazing, here is the link!![]()
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shoes4theshoeless.org/get-involved/![]()
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#goodnessandmercy
Questions or Comments?
Get in Touch
If you know us, you know that we love talking about what we do and meeting new people. If you don’t know us, we’d love to talk with you! Whether you want to share an idea, talk about a need, or just say hi, we would love to hear from you.