It's something we may take for granted: our shoes. Just think about how many pairs you have in your closet for all kinds of occasions and weather.
Footwear with Care came together this weekend for their spring kickoff event at UConn Hartford to help those who don't have this luxury.
The non-profit provides shoes to those experiencing homelessness.
"This is a good deal. I'm going to wear these all the time, like a lot, because it goes with everything." said Yvonne "Dee Dee" Mccarthy, of Hartford.
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Mccarthy got herself a brand new and stylish pair of Puma sneakers. It's something she and others were very grateful for.
"It's a wonderful thing that they do for us. You know, for people who are living in the streets, living in shelters. It's just a second chance in life. That's all," said Eric Reyes, of Hartford.
The idea came from Hartford Police Department's Homeless Outreach Officer Jim Barett, who met a homeless veteran whose only pair of shoes were worn-out flip flops.
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"What inspired me was a homeless veteran because I did 21 years in the Army, and the key thing to survival of completing a mission was a dry pair of socks and a decent pair of boots," said Barrett.
A veteran himself and an advocate for the homeless, Barrett gave the homeless veteran a brand-new pair of shoes.
Barrett's story inspired Abby Sullivan Moore to create Footwear With Care. In the beginning, Sullivan Moore reached out to non-profits and local shoe stores, including Fleet Feet in West Hartford to donate shoes. For seven years, Footwear with Care has helped Hartford's most vulnerable adults.
"I'm impressed by the people who are so thankful for something so little as a decent pair of shoes," said Sullivan Moore.
On Saturday, Footwear with Care teamed up with Midwest Foodbank to donate hundreds of shoes. People were also given free socks, foot exams, and a meal to go. In all, they helped 300 people during the event.
"Most common problems are really coming from the diabetics that we're seeing," said Dr. Lynn Leblanc, a podiatric consultant for Footwear with Care. "They have corns, calluses, bacterial infections, fungal infections, things that can get slowed down by a proper pair of shoes."
Sullivan says during the winter, they handed out more than 750 pairs of winter boots. Every year, they help more than 1,000 people, giving them support they need on their feet and in life.
In the next few weeks, Footwear with Care will hold smaller-scale sneaker events at other sites. Those experiencing homelessness must be referred by non-profit organizations, medical providers that serve the homeless community or by officer Barrett.
Donations to Footwear with Care can be made here.
