A nonprofit charity in Topeka has been collecting shoes for children since January and now, with summer nearly here, the group is ready to start giving away the footwear to needy kids this week. The group, Sole Reason, was founded by Jerry Hudgins. Hudgins says the city already has several food pantries and a shelter for the homeless. Hudgins was looking for another need to fill and found it with the help of kids he had met while volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club of Topeka.
Hudgins and fellow volunteers hosted shoe collection drives at schools and churches around the city and collected thousands of pairs of children's shoes. The group will distribute the shoes this Friday evening (June 3) at Hayden High School in Topeka.
