Kid's Shoe Fund
Help Kids Step Forward
The Kid's Shoe Fund is dedicated to providing new shoes to children in need across the Rio Grande Valley. We believe that every child deserves the dignity, comfort, and confidence that come with a proper pair of shoes. By addressing this basic necessity, we aim to empower kids to focus on their education, play, and dreams without the worry of inadequate footwear. Through the generosity of our supporters, we are making strides to ensure that no child in our community has to go without this essential part of their daily lives.
Our History
The charity was started by a man named Max Weddel, in Pharr Texas in 1997. Mr. Weddel obtained a charitable exemption certificate from the IRS and then started buying shoes for needy children in the local public schools
In 2002, Mr. Weddel turned the charity over to Dennis Remas and with the help of the kind folks who live in the Tropic Star RV Park and Resort, located in Pharr, who provided hundreds of pairs of new shoes to needy children in various public schools.
The charity was last headed by Penny Isom, who maintained the mission of the charity, serving the public schools and the deserving children in the Pharr - Mc Allen area.
In January of 2024, my wife, Susan and I accepted the honor of shepherding this worthwhile charity and have plans to expand its services through donations and corporate mission partners.
Our plan is to offer a quick response service for school teachers who are faced with the reality of using their own resources to meet the needs of the children in their care every day. These teachers are on the front line of a war of both poverty and neglect knowing first hand of the needs of these kids.
We will have a text message set up where the teacher can simply alert us to the needs of the child in question, providing necessary sizes and details addressing those needs. We will acquire the items and deliver them in a timely fashion.
While we are planning to do this in the local area, the goal is to serve the whole Rio Grande Valley eventually.
How we are going to do this is through corporate and business partnerships and fundraising. We want our business partners to not only give but to also receive in the way of business loyalty that comes when the public sees how that business is investing in the local community.
Our Mission
At Kids Shoe Fund, our mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that every child in need has access to essential footwear and other necessities. Based in the Rio Grande Valley, we work alongside school teachers and local police officers to identify children in need. When a child is brought to our attention, we step in to purchase the needed items and discreetly deliver them to the teacher or officer.
This approach allows those on the front lines—educators and community officers—to provide the gift directly, strengthening bonds of trust and care within the community. For us, it’s not about recognition or accolades. Our goal is to create meaningful change, one act of kindness at a time, and to inspire hope and dignity for children and families in our region. Together, we’re building a stronger, more compassionate Rio Grande Valley.
In the Rio Grande Valley, 58% of all Texas migrant workers children reside and go to school in the RGV. Texas is home to the largest interstate migrant student population in the US.
Households with children in the RGV generally have drastically lower incomes than in Texas overall.
While immigrants in Texas help to grow the state economy, immigrant families are more likely to live in poverty compared to U.S. born families.
Hidalgo County has experienced the largest growth of childhood population in recent history and in 2050, 600,000 children are projected to live in the RGV.
While immigrants in Texas help to grow the state economy, immigrant families are more likely to live in poverty compared to U.S. born families.
No matter what a person may feel about the immigration issue, we are here to serve those who will be the future of our country and the great state of Texas. We, at Children’s Shoe fund want to do our best to secure that future in the most positive way possible.
You Can Make The Difference In A Child's Life
If you're looking to make a difference in the lives of children in the Rio Grande Valley, we invite you to join us in supporting the Kid's Shoe Fund. Your donations and support help provide much-needed footwear to children in need, ensuring they have the comfort and confidence to take on life’s challenges. To learn more about how you can help or to make a donation, please contact us at 956-800-2070. Together, we can make every step count for the kids in our community.
