Dozens of moms and dads towed their children Saturday morning to a renovated warehouse just south of downtown for free tennis shoes — thanks to an annual tradition started seven years ago by an inner-city Christian ministry.
Large blower fans battled the heat inside as Nikes covered little feet and relieved financial strain on parents struggling to cover back-to-school expenses.
The giveaway, called Share Your Sole, is orchestrated by Blood-N-Fire Ministries, a 10-year-old nonprofit agency that has “adopted” 450 homes near the warehouse for community outreach programs. There, the ministry operates two houses with after-school tutoring, cookouts, food giveaways and Bible studies.
Through these faith-based programs and one-on-one monthly visits to the homes, the ministry believes it can help the entire neighborhood overcome poverty, dropout rates and other social problems.
Saturday's event drew donations and volunteers from corporations and Journey Church near Boerne, New Hope Community Church in Round Rock and dozens of individuals.
“This is actually doing something to meet a need,” said 8-year veteran volunteer Julia Torres. “We're not just saying a prayer for you. We're trying to satisfy your hunger with food.”
Before the giveaway began, ministry co-founder Mark Roye called the children and teens to the front of a meeting room for a pep talk.
“The choices you make this year will have a direct impact on your future,” he told them. “You will become like who you hang out with. Isn't that right, mamas?”
Later, about 35 people took up Roye's invitation to receive Christian salvation before the giveaway began. In an hour and a half, the shoes and crowds were nearly gone.
Fifteen-year-old Paul Martinez was among the first few to walk past a divider into a room where 218 pairs of shoes were categorized by size on two rows of tables.
Daniel Cloud, a volunteer and youth minister from New Hope Community Church, helped him fit size 8 high-tops. Inside one of the shoes was an index card with a Bible verse in Spanish and English and a Smarties sour candy taped to it.
Cloud put his arm around the teen and prayed for Martinez's success as a member of ROTC at Brackenridge High School and his dream of becoming a Marine. Victoria Martinez, the boy's single mother who has two other young children, watched with pride and thanks.
“They are extremely generous people,” she said, noting her full-time job was recently cut to three days a week. “All I can say is thank you, Jesus.”
