Hundreds of school pupils will step into new shoes this week after a Glasgow firm helped families struggling through the cost-of-living crisis.
Box Fresh Glasgow in the city's Southside can proudly say that they have provided footwear to 624 kids.
READ NEXT: 'Disgusting': Charity denied Glasgow LEZ exemption for van
Owner Chris decided to launch Sole Swap over the summer.
He said: "The cost of shoes and uniforms is really high for the average person with good earnings, so I can’t imagine how bad it is for single-parent families or those who can’t work.”
The trainer cleaning specialist spoke of his drive to start the collection after hearing horror stories about local children living on the poverty line.
He said: "Some of the stories were heartbreaking.
"We heard about a woman who has five kids and can only send two children at a time to school because of a lack of shoes. We also heard of kids wearing Christmas jumpers to school every day.
“It has been amazing to know we are helping people out.
"There is a high demand for people needing school uniforms and shoes.
"I have got kids myself and I know how much it costs.
“After about four weeks, the toes have been kicked out and things need replaced, plus kids are constantly growing too."
Hundreds of footwear donated by kind-hearted members of the public including football boots, trainers and black school shoes have been given to community groups like
CAHMS, Erskine Girls Brigade, Apparel Exchange and a range of primary schools to be distributed to those 'most in need'.
READ NEXT: How Glasgow comedian deals with Barlinnie prison hecklers
Chris also hopes that the Sole Swap has alleviated the pressures on wearing designer labels that kids face in high school.
He added: “I came from an area of Glasgow that was not affluent at all and I saw bullying over your shoes and uniform all the time when growing up. I wanted to help with that too.
“It’s not just 624 shoes donated, but 624 kids who might not get bullied for having shoes that aren’t ‘cool enough’ or ‘clean’.
“Hopefully it alleviates some pressure off those kids.”
The campaign would not have been possible without a certain Glasgow student as Chris revealed when he got in touch with his old high school back in April to see if any pupils wanted to do some work experience at Box Fresh, Rossi stepped in.
The 15-year-old, who ‘got on with everyone and worked hard’, came in when Chris and Box Fresh team had the idea to do the sole swap.
After realising the low level of resources available to clean the shoes, Chris asked if Rossi and his mum wanted to help with the initiative during the summer holidays.
Aiding in cleaning the shoes and helping to distribute, Rossi has certainly helped the success of the campaign.
He said: “We have basically been the middlemen in this.
“Though it may sound cheesy, there has been a big sense of community in doing this and they have helps us to help other people.”
For more information on Box Fresh Glasgow, click HERE
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here