On Gratitude: Happiness Is a New Pair of Shoes, Clothing Donations for Children

At Kidz Closet, most of our work happens quietly—behind the scenes, away from the spotlight, and often without ever meeting the children and families we serve. We spend our time helping our community by getting clothing donations for children in our local neighborhoods. Our connection is made through the dedicated advocates at our partner agencies. These professionals reach out to us when they see a child or family in need, and from there, our volunteers step in to carefully curate clothing packages—each one unique, thoughtful, and filled with love.

We never know the names or faces of the recipients. What we do know are the details that matter most: a child's size, their favorite colors, the current weather, and the context of their life. Is a school uniform needed? A coat for winter? Something appropriate for a job interview? We gather, sort, and package items accordingly—always with dignity in mind. Then the advocate returns to deliver the clothing package, bringing warmth and hope back to someone who may be going through the most difficult chapter of their life.

Usually, that’s where our involvement ends.

But every so often, a story finds its way back to us—and it reminds us why we do what we do.

Not long ago, one of our partner agency advocates reached out, clearly moved by what she had witnessed. She had recently delivered a clothing package to a young girl who had been displaced from her home due to domestic violence. A child caught in circumstances no one—let alone a child—should ever have to endure.

The package contained practical items: seasonal clothes, a few school-appropriate pieces, and one very special surprise—a brand-new pair of sparkly pink high-top sneakers.

When the girl saw them, her eyes lit up. She gasped, clutching them to her chest like they were treasure. And to her, they were. She had never had a brand-new pair of shoes before, let alone shoes that sparkled with so much personality and joy. She immediately put them on, stood a little taller, and smiled in a way that said, “These are mine. These were chosen for me.”

It’s a small thing, isn’t it? A pair of shoes.

But for this child, they were more than just footwear. They were a symbol of care, of being seen, of mattering in a world that had been uncertain and frightening. In that moment, those shoes were a promise that better days could exist—that even amid the struggle, there could still be light.

That story moved all of us deeply. It’s easy to get caught up in logistics and process—how many packages were filled, what still needs to be done, the inventory we’re low on. But this story brought us back to what really matters: the human impact.

Gratitude, we’ve come to learn, has its own kind of magic. It doesn’t just live in the hearts of those who receive—it radiates back to those who give. Knowing that one small act—something as simple as including a pair of joyful sneakers—could spark such happiness in a child, lifts our spirits more than words can say.

It also reminds us that gratitude isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it's in the quiet confidence of a child walking into school with her head held high because she feels good in what she’s wearing. Sometimes, it’s in the advocate who takes a moment out of her busy day to share a story that touched her soul. And sometimes, it’s in the hands of our volunteers, who fold each garment with care and never stop believing that every child deserves dignity, comfort, and joy.

As we continue this work, may we all hold onto that spark—that possibility of wonder. Let’s allow ourselves to be moved, to be grateful, and to recognize the beauty in small things.

Because sometimes, happiness really is a new pair of shoes.