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Because every child deserves to start the school year with a new pair of shoes
Our 2024 Impact
Shoe Buddy donated 370 pairs of shoes to kids in our Ellis County community this year. This marks the highest number of shoes we've ever donated in a single year, and it comes on the heels of donating 329 pairs in 2023. During our 2024 shoe drive, each kid got to pick out their very own new, name brand pair of shoes at Famous Footwear Waxahachie. The joy and excitement radiating from these kids was contagious. We're sending a huge "thank you" to our amazing volunteers and donors!
ABOUT US
Shoe Buddy has one simple guiding principle:
All children deserve to start school with a new pair of shoes.
Founded in 2010 by Melveene Dixon and her husband, Bill, in memory of her father, Buddy Gibson, Shoe Buddy aims to ensure that all children — regardless of their means — start school with a new pair of shoes. Buddy, a mechanic and cattle rancher, always wanted to buy shoes for all the children in his community who went barefoot because they lacked the means for new shoes. A generation later, Buddy's daughter Melveene turned his wish into a ministry. Since its founding in 2010, Shoe Buddy has served over 2,300 children in the Waxahachie community.
By partnering with local aid organizations, such as Ellis County Children's Advocacy Center, Waxahachie CARE Services, CASA of Ellis County and others, Shoe Buddy provides needy children with one pair of new shoes to start their school year off on the right foot. And the best part: The kids get to pick the new, brand name shoes themselves, so they're guaranteed to feel their best. Today, Shoe Buddy is run by Melveene and her grandchildren. Shoe Buddy is a 501(c)3 certified non-profit and all donations are tax deductible.
DONATE
Shoe Buddy would be nowhere without the financial support of local small businesses and individuals. Whether you are interested in a one-time donation or a recurring contribution, we welcome all gifts.
Shoe Buddy is a 501(c)3 certified non-profit and all donations to our shoe charity for kids are tax deductible.
At this time, we are unable to accept donations online as the security of your donations is of utmost importance to us. For now, we are only able to accept donations in person or through the mail. Please email us and we will be happy to coordinate.
For inquiries or questions, please contact donations@shoebuddy.org.
If mailing a check, please fill out this form and mail to:
ShoeBuddy, Inc.
PO Box 758
Waxahachie, TX 75168
IN THE NEWS
Shoe Buddy and founder Melveene Dixon were featured as the May 2021 cover story in Waxahachie NOW magazine.
The Waxahachie Sun newspaper highlighted Shoe Buddy's 2022 efforts to serve 186 children in the local community at Famous Footwear.
The Waxahachie Daily Light newspaper multimedia interviewed Shoe Buddy founder Melveene Dixon on camera in the program's fourth year.
VOLUNTEER
Each year in the late summer, Shoe Buddy hosts a week of shoe fittings. Eligible school children who receive a voucher from their partner organization meet at a local shoe store staffed by Shoe Buddy volunteers. Our volunteers help the kids pick their perfect pair.
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact volunteer@shoebuddy.org.
CONTACT US
“And Jesus said, ‘... Whatsoever you have done unto the least of these ... you have done it unto me.”
Matthew 25:40