TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Students across the Big Bend are heading into the new school year with a little more confidence and a brand-new pair of shoes.
The ninth annual Shoes 4 School giveaway provided more than 2,000 pairs of shoes Sunday at the Al Lawson Center for students in Leon, Gadsden and Jefferson counties.
Students described how they felt about the experience as “happy,” “good” and “grateful.”
For one parent Balviter Booth, the giveaway is especially helpful when shopping for multiple children. “This helps out tremendously,” Booth said.
Booth, who attended the event for the second year in a row, said shoes can be expensive, especially for children who need larger sizes.
“Shoes range anywhere from $50 to $200, and I have boys as well, whose sizes are 11-13, which are extremely pricey,” Booth said.
The National Retail Federation says families with students in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of more than $860 on back-to-school items this year.
Organizers say the giveaway is designed to help ease that financial burden.
“A lot of parents are struggling because they have to pay rent, pay the light bill, and it’s a hard choice to make when you have a child who wants a new pair of shoes before school starts,” said Bishop Quincy Griffin of Family Worship and Praise Center.
More news out of the Big Bend:
Griffin, a former Leon County Schools band director, said he saw firsthand how having proper shoes can affect students.
“If they feel good, they are going to do well in school,” Griffin said. “Their scores are going to be higher. They are going to have a different level of self-confidence because if your shoes have holes in them, or they don’t have soles, how can you focus in class?”
Griffin said the giveaway is a community effort, with nearly 200 volunteers and sponsors helping students start the school year on the right foot.
To support the Shoes 4 School initiative, click here.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.