Our Story
Christmas Shoes Ministry began in Greer, SC with 45 children to sponsor. Over the years, the number of agencies and schools we are affiliated with has grown. Together with God’s faithfulness and the help and generosity of so many, Christmas Shoes is providing over 3,000 pairs of shoes to local children at Christmastime and throughout the year. We want to keep growing our ministry. The more donations and support we receive, the more local children in need we’re able to serve all year long.
Who Are Christmas Shoes Children?
Christmas Shoes children are carefully and thoughtfully selected from our community by school counselors, DSS, social workers, children organizations, and the Christmas Shoes team. They range in age from newborn to 18 years. All are considered at or below poverty level. Some are developmentally challenged. Many are in foster care or temporary housing situations or shelters. Most are McKinney-Vento homeless children. All of our school-aged children are on Free Lunch as designated by their School Districts. Without question, these Christmas Shoes children are among those who are in most need of our help and our prayers. Christmas Shoes Children are individually selected from the following places:
Greenville County
A Child’s Haven
Berea Elementary School
Cherrydale Elementary School
Excaliber Residential Facility for Teenage Boys
Generations Residential Facility for Teenage Boys
Greenville County DSS and Foster Care
Greenville County Schools Homeless Children
Greenville County Juvenile Detention Center
Lakeview Middle School
Miracle Hill Ministries – Children’s Home, Boys Shelter
Monaview Elementary School
Northwood Middle School
Ralph Chandler Elementary School
Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club
Sterling Elementary School
Venice Student Psychiatric Residential Facility
Westcliff Elementary School
Pickens SC
Pickens County Schools Homeless Children
Spartanburg SC
Meeting Street Academy Boys and Girls Club
Spartanburg County District 3
Spartanburg County Schools Homeless Children
Asheville NC
Glen Arden Elementary, Head Start Program
Estes Elementary, Head Start Program
- Almost every week, we are contacted to provide shoes for children who have been removed from their parents and placed in emergency housing or foster care through DSS in Greenville County.
- On a regular basis, we provide athletic shoes to stock the “PE closet” at the Greenville County Juvenile Detention Center.
- At any given time, we are dedicated to serving any newly discovered child in immediate need of our support. We provide newly enrolled children at A Child’s Haven – and sometimes their siblings at home as well – each with a new pair of shoes.