because we are excited it is our kicks
for the kids campaign and we could
really use your help so news for Jax is
gathering shoes for kids in need and
joining us now to explain this great
campaign is the creator of kicks for the
kids tan Mayhew good to see you back I
feel like we just had you on the show
yesterday so great to have you here and
what an amazing thing so for those
people that aren't familiar with the
drive really quickly summarize it for us
I'm kicks for the kids shoe drive this
is actually our eighth year and it's an
opportunity for you Jacksonville natives
to give back to help our young children
here in Jacksonville so we asked for new
or gently he were being gently you shoes
and we do a drive for students in the
Jacksonville school area from
kindergarten to 12th grade there's so
many great causes what made you want to
do this and really get kids right off on
the on the right foot my oldest sister
is a social worker Veronica and she was
saying that she dreaded going back to
school going back to work I should say
because there were gonna be so many
young people missing the first couple of
weeks because they don't have shoes they
can't wear the shoes from last year
they've outgrown them of course and I
simply said to her a living room
conversation why don't we ask people to
donate new or you shoes she's like I
think that's a great idea we talked to
our other sister put our brings together
and came up with we'll do a shoe drive
that first one it was probably a month
we had to plan it and we got 50 pair of
shoes and we were just joking about like
wow we thought that was really great but
we have gone from 50 on the first year
to last year we had over 2000 pair of
shoes and so this year we want to exceed
that yeah and we're so happy to partner
with you here at channel 4 and the
wonderful Tracy Gaffney working behind
the scenes that this event is a success
so you brought in some examples for us
yes what are we looking for sizes styles
ages really quickly so we want to keep
in mind all sizes you know of course
this is small and
you and everyone loves to buy shoes for
a little kids they're cute and it's fun
but we want all sizes so not only do we
want the little shoes but we need you
know your larger shoes because we're
trying to provide shoes for all aged
students but when we say gently use that
is the key gently we don't want you to
give anything that you wouldn't give to
your own children so this is a pair of
gently use shoes and gently simply is
not that you don't wear them anymore or
your kids don't wear them anymore
because they are worn out they don't
wear them anymore because maybe they
didn't fit or if they didn't work for
them everyone has a pair of shoes in
their closet that they bought they
thought it would be a great fit and they
don't closed in shoes are our preference
so anything from your ballerina slippers
for the little girls or tennis shoes we
have an array of shoes ear forget about
the teenage boys yes definitely
definitely so it is so important I mean
you you've got to just feel good about
yourself at night knowing that you are
giving these kids you know a step in the
right direction literally as well as a
confidence boost that they need I feel
great about it because I have an amazing
team that over the years that have come
on board and simply said what can we do
to help so we don't realize that
something as simple as a pair of shoes
bring so much dignity to a young person
and that's all we're trying to do if you
feel good about yourself you're gonna be
better in school so that's cutting down
on missing school behavior problems all
of that so it's an amazing feeling to
know that you play such a small part in
doing something that can change
someone's life great wonderful I'm gonna
make a donation thank you for anybody we
appreciate you we have so many drop-off
locations you can drop them off here at
channel 4 Fields Auto Group dealerships
one-to-one financial credit unions meow
and barks boutique and first place
sports
now shoes will be given away on August
the 5th that's right around the corner
it's
going to be first-come first-served for
a full list of drop-off locations go to
the positively Jack section of news for
Jack sitcom and we will be right back