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School Shoes

When children and youth enter foster care, they often come with only the clothes on their backs or whatever can be stuffed into a black trash bag. Many live in foster homes and group homes that utilize clothing closets and secondhand stores for the youth in their care. Once a year, just before school starts, youth in foster care receive $300 to shop for clothing and shoes. Starting a new school year with new clothing and new shoes can make a big difference for youth in foster care. It helps build self-confidence for a group of youth who struggle with low self-esteem and depression at higher rates than those outside of the foster care system. At the Heart Gallery, we realized we could make the burden a little lighter for our youth by providing funding for back school shoes. Without having to worry about the high cost of shoes, Heart Gallery youth could reserve most of their $300 allowance for clothes.