HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – A good pair of shoes is something many people take for granted. However, for some children, that’s not always the case.
In 2024, a partnership with Lace Up Detroit helped collect donations of new shoes and boots for children in the community.
Recently, a visit to Dickinson West Elementary in Hamtramck highlighted how families there are stretched thin.
That’s why something as simple as a new pair of shoes can make a big difference.
Cynthia Twymon, a third-grade teacher, and Kimberly Kennedy, the mother of Mike and Larry, shared their perspectives on the impact.
Meet brothers Mike and Larry. Mike, in third grade, is the fastest runner. Larry, the oldest, is in fourth grade.
Like most kids their age, their feet grow fast.
At Dickinson West Elementary, some students come to school with shoes that are too worn, too small, or not warm enough for Michigan’s weather.
That’s where Lace Up Detroit stepped in, providing brand-new shoes to children across Metro Detroit.
Mike and Larry received new shoes during last year’s event.
Kennedy said, “They liked them, and I was good to go with them.”
She added, “It’s nice for them to do that for the kids because, like you say, it builds kids’ self-confidence a lot. When kids can wear their new clothes, it makes them feel so much brighter and so much better. And it makes the parent happy when their kid is happy.”
Teachers agree it’s about more than just footwear.
The right pair of shoes helps kids focus in the classroom and feel like they belong.
“We are blessed and fortunate to have many different cultures in our school,” said Twymon. “Some of our students have only sandals at home, and obviously, like you said, in Michigan, we need something a little more sturdy for our weather. We go outside to play as much as we can. We want them to be safe number one, and then we want them to be comfortable.”
She added, “I know it’s going to make a difference. It makes a difference in the classroom. You see it when they have new shoes, you see it when they hit new clothes. You see it when they have a nice new hairstyle. Their confidence goes to the moon. You see it in how they learn, how they speak up, even how they smile.”
For families like Mike and Larry’s, new shoes mean walking into a new school year with dignity—filled with imagination and ready to learn without holding back.
To support Lace Up Detroit, simply scan the QR code in the video above to make a donation.
They’re fitting students with new shoes to start the school year and will be at Dickinson West Elementary next week.