Gwinnett charity gives new shoes to students

We knew this morning a pair of new shoes can mean more than just footwear for a child heading back to school. One Georgia non-profit is using sneakers to help kids feel confident in the classroom. Good Day's Kim Leffler shows us how the organization is giving back one pair at a time. Before he was giving away shoes, Romaine Bird remembers what it felt like to need them. I was one of those kids that struggled with having proper shoes and clothes to go to school. And that just kind of led to my infatuation of sneakers. During the summer, I probably gave away about 120 pairs of personal shoes myself, but then I had the idea, hey, let's make this a thing and make it an actual, you know, non-profit. That idea became Kicks for Class, a non-profit founded by veterans who wanted to continue serving, this time by helping kids in their own communities. The organization works to provide brand new shoes for kids in need. If you do have the latest shoes, then you can walk with confidence and be able to kind of accomplish those tasks that you set out during the day. Now my baby gets to go to school with a new pair of shoes and great confidence. So hopefully we have a great school year. Since launching this summer, the organization says it has donated dozens of pairs of shoes. One of the things I also volunteer for is Big Brother, Big Sister. And so when I took the shoes to her, she actually did a dance for me. She was like, oh my God, I can wear it with my new pants that I got. Thank you. Founders hope to one day be able to share that same excitement with kids throughout the state. We want to take that from just in the hub of Gwinnett to all across Georgia. Thank you, Kix. Because for them, it all comes back to something they know firsthand, what it means for a child to feel like they belong. In Gwinnett County, Kim Luffler for Good Day Atlanta. And for more information about Kicks for Class and how you can get involved, head to our website, fox5atlanta.com. Nothing like getting a new pair of shoes. Yeah, that was so sweet, that little girl. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, I've always felt like I could run faster and jump higher with a new pair of sneakers That's so true.