One Pair of Shoes Can Change Everything – Help My 10-Year-Old Give Refugee Kids a Fresh Start

What would it feel like to walk into your first day of school—barefoot?

My 10-year-old son, Saurav, is on a mission to make sure no refugee child in our Jacksonville community ever has to answer that question.

Jacksonville is home to many newly arrived refugee families starting over with almost nothing. Recently, a kind neighbor who works closely with these families reached out to my son—because she remembered him.

Three years ago, when he was just 7, he helped raise money to buy school supplies for refugee children. This time, she asked:

“Could he help again? This time… with shoes?”

Many refugee children don’t have a single pair of shoes that fit. While shoes might seem small, we all know how much confidence, safety, and dignity a good pair can give—especially to a child trying to find their place in a new world.

When my son heard this, he said:

“If we can give them new shoes, they won’t feel unprepared—they’ll feel ready.”

So that’s exactly what we’re doing.

We are raising funds to buy brand-new school shoes for refugee children in Jacksonville, starting school this fall. Every dollar will go directly toward purchasing and distributing quality shoes through someone we trust who works closely with these families.

This isn’t a big national campaign. It’s a small act of love, started by a big-hearted 10-year-old who believes every child deserves to feel like they belong.

$25 = One Pair of Shoes

Can you help one child walk into school with their head held high?

Whether you donate one pair, ten pairs, or simply share this page, you are part of something powerful.

Let us show these kids—and my son—that kindness walks far.

Thank you for supporting this mission—one step at a time.

With love and gratitude,

Karishma and Saurav