The Americans Helping Americans® basic needs program provides essentials such as coats, blankets, and dental kits, along with grants to local partners for utility bill assistance, eviction prevention, and ensuring electricity for medical needs.
This program also includes our Barefeet program, which provides cash grants to our partners in Appalachia, enabling them to take children to local shoe stores to pick out their very own pair of new shoes – for many, for the very first time – as well as purchase large quantities of footwear at bulk prices.
For 2026, our goal is to award $12,500 in cash grants for footwear for children in Appalachia.
In McDowell County, West Virginia, our partner Big Creek People in Action (BCPIA) – which operates a family pantry where all items are free to families in need – has been awarded a $1,000 grant through the Barefeet program.
“Almost all of the shoes we receive from the community for our pantry are already worn out,” noted BCPIA Executive Director Dyanne Spriggs.
Through the Barefeet grant, “With the parents’ permission, we will take the kids who participate in our after-school and summer camp programs to a shoe store and let them pick out a pair of tennis shoes that they like, and that actually fit,” says Dyanne.
In addition, Dyanne explained that BCPIA also uses a portion of its grant to purchase a pallet of shoes from a charitable organization that redirects donated goods – such as shoes – to where they can have the greatest impact.
The organization notes that every year, billions of dollars in perfectly good products are discarded while millions of American families struggle to afford basic necessities.
Dyanne said the shoes BCPIA purchases have been returned to major retailers such as Amazon or Walmart, but “most of them look new, they just aren’t in a box.”
According to a 2024 report by 24/7 Wall St., the median household income in McDowell County is $28,235, which is $49,914 less than the U.S. median. The county also has a poverty rate of 33.3 percent, placing it among the top 10 percent of the 3,142 U.S. counties and county equivalents with the highest poverty levels.
“Poverty statistics in our county clearly show the need for kids’ shoes,” says Dyanne. “Often, the most visible sign of poverty is the condition of the child’s shoes.
“Without a good pair of shoes, kids feel embarrassed, discouraged, or left out – simply because they lack something most of us take for granted. Every child needs a new pair of shoes to go to school.”
Dyanne said BCPIA would first like to serve all of the kids who have attended its after-school program and summer camp. Remaining funds will be spent to purchase new tennis shoes for their pantry, where other parents in the community can pick out shoes for their children.
With its $1,000 grant, Dyanne said BCPIA will be able to provide shoes for 90 individuals from 80 households.
In Beattyville, Kentucky, Americans Helping Americans® has budgeted $4,000 in grant funding for the Lee County Family Resource Center (FRC) to provide basic support – including shoes – for 100 elementary school children from 70 families.
FRC Coordinator Paige Ramey explained that the center focuses on removing non-academic barriers to learning – such as poverty, health issues, and lack of access to childcare – to increase academic success.
These programs are focused on meeting the following components: afterschool childcare, health services, family literacy, families in training and basic-needs support, which includes back-to-school shoes.
Paige told us with the poverty rate in Lee County being at 31 percent, according to the U.S. Census, and reports indicating that 89 percent of students in Lee County qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, “many parents struggle to provide proper clothing and food for their children. This includes socks, underwear, shoes, clothing items, and nutritious meals.”
She added that the cash grant will be utilized to keep shoes, underwear, and socks stocked in the FRC clothing closet. She will utilize these items “when observing students to be in poorly maintained, ill-fitting clothing and shoes.
“Cafeteria staff will aid in determining student need for food, as they observe those who are constantly asking for more and to take food home in their backpack.”
Also in Beattyville, Americans Helping Americans® has budgeted $5,000 in grant funding for the Lee County Middle/High School Youth Service Center (YSC).
YSC Coordinator Jennifer Wilder said the grant will serve 50 students, explaining that “not only will it help our families, but it will also help our community,” noting that there is only one department store in the community “and we shop with our families there.”
She said the center will schedule a date and time and meet with the families that attend the school, and they will be able to pick out a pair of new shoes for themselves.
“This is something that they do not get to do very often, not a name-brand shoe,” she said. “These kids are thrilled to do this activity.”
And in Gainesville, Georgia, LAMP Ministries Executive Director Mary Mauricio said the funds are used for children who outgrow their shoes, or adults who do not have shoes to wear. “In the school year, children grow out of their shoes and for adults they wear out.”
“We try to help anyone that needs the help, and sometimes the families we help would never ask for help,” says Mary, who estimates the $2,500 grant will help 20-30 individuals in 2026.
“But every child wants to go school shopping, so for us those smiles by children/adults are worth our time and effort.
“Who would give them or their families shoes to wear? These basic needs are the most urgently needed by our community. If this program was not funded, many in our community would not receive what they needed.
“Children or families or adults who have worn out shoes or shoes that are too small. They will have shoes to wear to school, play, work or everyday wear.”
Among the beneficiaries in Gainesville last year was Linda, a grandmother, who told us,
“We are grateful to LAMP Ministries for taking our little ones and filling them with happiness by buying them shoes and socks.
“For many, it may seem like something unimportant, but in our case, the girls had not had a decent pair of shoes for two years.
“The last time they received shoes, they were used, and this time, experiencing the opportunity to choose what they liked was a special moment for them.
“There are no words to thank the noble work of the ministry and Americans Helping Americans®.”
