Last summer, My New Red Shoes served 6,067 children, totaling to over 21,000 children since their first season. Having expanded from Heather’s small neighborhood, My New Red Shoes now serves children in all nine counties in the Bay Area (Moos). Obviously, this task requires a tremendous amount of effort. My New Red Shoes must evolve to serve and accommodate a growth of roughly 40% more children each year (Keefe). They must rely heavily on the support of the community, both financially and physically. In addition to monetary donations, My New Red Shoes attracts thousands of volunteers who wish to help this cause (“What We Do”). Even with the tremendous efforts of their incredible volunteer base, My New Red Shoes is still unable to reach all of the children that they wish to. If they could, My New Red Shoes would ensure that every child everywhere has a
new pair of shoes and a new set of clothing for their first day back at school. Unfortunately, this is not the case, at least not right now. According to the Homelessness Research Institute, 20 out of every 10,000 people in the general population are homeless. Composing 38% of the homeless population are families with children, amounting to approximately 239,403 people out of 77,157 households in America. The children in families such as
these are the ones at which My New Red Shoes targets their attention. Despite the daunting numbers of the homeless and impoverished population, the staff at My New Red Shoes remain resolute. It is a future goal of My New Red Shoes broaden their reach and be able to serve any child, anywhere. Echoed by the desire of the community to see them succeed, My New Red Shoes aspires to bring out a sense of confidence and an eagerness to learn in the children they serve.
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