Lace Up Detroit is on a mission to make sure no child has to walk to school in shoes that don’t fit. The volunteer-led nonprofit provides brand-new footwear to kids across southeast Michigan, believing that confidence, comfort, and classroom focus start from the ground up.
Founded a decade ago by five women, Lace Up Detroit has already donated more than 16,500 pairs of shoes and boots to local children. The group partners with schools and family service agencies to identify students in need - transforming gymnasiums into cheerful “shoe stores” where kids can pick out their own new pair.
This fall, the organization supplied every student at Legacy Charter Academy in Detroit with new shoes — an event that Principal Nathan Tomlinson says made a visible difference.
“You could just see the pride on their faces,” Tomlinson said. “Something as simple as a new pair of shoes made our students stand taller and smile bigger. It reminded them that people in the community care about them.”
Lace Up Detroit also maintains “shoe lockers” at partner sites so staff can quickly help kids who show up in shoes that are worn out or the wrong size. A new pilot program even allows individual families to request help directly.
Now, the community has a chance to help Lace Up Detroit do even more. Live in the D has chosen the nonprofit as its charity partner in Gardner White’s Twinkle Town tree-decorating contest, where the top-voted tree wins $10,000 for its cause.
“Our goal is to put new shoes on as many little feet as we can,” said Lace Up Detroit President Suzanne Seitz. “Ten thousand dollars would mean 350 more pairs of shoes for kids who really need them.”
Live in the D’s festive entry - themed “Walkin’ in a Sneaker Wonderland” - is competing for votes now through Dec. 7. Viewers can vote as often as they’d like at this link.
To watch the segment and see what the Live in the D tree looks like, click the video above.