Fort Worth charity gives new shoes to 400 families in need

Hundreds of families in need lined up outside a Fort Worth elementary school in hopes their children could get a great kick-start for the summer.

"Soles for Souls" provides new shoes for the start of the summer to inner-city kids and families. It also provides clothes and other items. For some families, it’s a tradition.

Fort Worth Metro collects shoes all through the year just for the event. The new shoes are great for kids. But that’s only part of the experience.

In the blazing heat on Friday, more than 40 volunteers made sure that more than 400 inner-city parents and kids left with a smile.

Soles for Souls is a 25-year old outreach program organized by the faith-based charity Fort Worth Metro.

Each child and adult picked out clothes if needed. Then, they got their feet washed, new socks and a new pair of shoes.

"We want the people in the inner-city to know that they are not forgotten and that they matter,” said Ruth Calzada with Fort Worth Metro. “A lot of them rely on this. They know their kids are gonna get a brand new pair of shoes for the summer."

"People don't really get shoes,” said Daisy Avelar who got a new pair. “This is like, exciting for me!"

For parents like Jorge Yescas, it means the world.

"Now that I'm here, I’m blessed to see my kids do what I used to do when I was young and looking up to Pastor Buddy,” he said. “It's just a blessing."

The charity will be on the east side of Fort Worth on Saturday doing the same thing again.

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