KICS – Kids In Cool Shoes
The Need for KICS
The Junior League of Austin (JLA), through its Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) program, in collaboration with the Austin Independent School District (AISD), provides brand-new, well-fitting athletic shoes to students at local elementary schools in high-need areas.
Elementary school students often wear ill-fitting or worn-out shoes, which can negatively impact their school attendance, physical activity, and classroom behavior. Having well-fitting, quality shoes can significantly enhance students’ overall performance and wellbeing.
Since its inception in 2018, KICS has provided a new pair of shoes to 10,000 students at more than 20 schools. JLA and community volunteers will distribute 2500 pairs of new sneakers and socks in the 2024-25 school year.
DISTRIBUTION
KICS Distribution Dates
Fall Distribution: Thurs., October 24, 2024
Spring Distribution: Thurs., February 27, 2025
Through its fall and spring distribution days, 2500 students in the Austin community will get measured for their appropriate size shoe and pick out the style and color they like. Each student will leave with a new pair of well-fitting athletic shoes and socks.
HISTORY
In 2018, a group of JLA volunteers visited Guerrero-Thompson Elementary School in the Rundberg community, an area which is nearly 97 percent economically disadvantaged. Students from the entire school were sized for new shoes. Four weeks later, volunteers returned to distribute 655 new pairs of shoes—changing lives and sparking the organization’s newest program to provide an essential item to local children.
In its second year, KICS expanded to serve three additional community schools.
Today, KICS provides brand-new sneakers to 2500 students across ten schools in AISD each year. With help from corporate sponsorships and volunteer hours, JLA hopes to continue growing its KICS program into the future.
Volunteer with KICS
KICS distribution days rely on the support of JLA and community volunteers to be successful.
If your company or group is interested in providing volunteers to support distribution, please reach out to our volunteer team via email at kicsvolunteers@jlaustin.org to learn more.
Thank you for your interest in supporting KICS!
KICS FAQs
Q: Can I donate a pair of gently used shoes?
A: Pediatricians tell us that wearing pre-owned shoes isn’t advised because even very gentle use leaves a wear pattern on the insoles of the shoes that doesn’t match the new recipient’s feet. This can be particularly detrimental to growing feet and growing skeletal systems. For this reason, the shoes we distribute through KICS are all new.
Q: How else can I support KICS?
A: You can donate $22 to buy a new pair of shoes for a child. Please click here to donate to KICS. Only $22 buys a new pair of shoes for a child in need.
Q: Can I volunteer with KICS?
A: We appreciate volunteers! Volunteer shift details and signup will be available at a later date. Community members and businesses are invited to volunteer on distribution days (see dates above). If your company is interested in sponsoring a school distribution day, please contact kicsvolunteers@jlaustin.org.
KICS Impact
“The interaction with the kids was very fun and worthwhile. They all seemed excited to get their shoes, and I’m sure they were needed by many of the kids, so it felt good to be a part of that experience. School staff and Junior League volunteers were very appreciative, too.”
– Corporate sponsor and volunteer
“I cannot describe the feeling that I felt that day. I was so touched by the amount of shoes we were able to pass out. Seeing those kids’ faces as they received their shoes was priceless.”
– Corporate sponsor and volunteer
“This is my first pair of new shoes, EVER!”
– Second grade student and KICS recipient
“I only had these shoes, and they used to be my big sister’s, but now they’re too small. Thank you.”
– Fourth grade student and KICS recipient
“Prior to this pilot program, many of our students were in shoes that didn’t fit or were falling apart. The week before you came here, one little boy came in because his shoes were so old that the tongue of the shoe had broken off!”
– Administrator, KICS school recipient