A Catholic Charities ministry helps Toledo children start the school year on the right foot
Hundreds of children in Toledo got a fresh start to the school year — and a fresh pair of shoes — at the 12th annual Shoe Fest, hosted by Helping Hands of St. Louis, a ministry of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo.
Families lined up around the block outside Helping Hands on Saturday morning to receive a pair of shoes, socks, school supplies, and a complimentary foot bath. In total, 1,200 pairs of shoes and 800 school supply bags were distributed at this back-to-school celebration of community, dignity, and hope.
“We've been doing this now for over 10 years, and it’s just an amazing, amazing event,” said Rodney Schuster, Executive Director of Catholic Charities Diocese of Toledo. “To have these children come in, to get their feet washed, to get their feet dried, to get brand new socks and brand new shoes put on — it’s a beautiful way to serve with compassion.”
Helping Hands began in 1982 as a simple soup kitchen operated by parishioners and priests. Over the decades, it has grown into a year-round Catholic Charities ministry offering food, clothing, hygiene packs, and compassionate support to all who come through the door — regardless of background or belief.
What sets Shoe Fest apart is not only what is given, but how it is given. Each child receives a foot washing — a gesture modeled after Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet. Volunteers then help them put on fresh socks and a brand-new pair of shoes.
The event has grown over the years to include music, balloon artists, face painting, snacks, health screenings provided by University of Toledo Community Care Clinics, and free books — all made possible by donations from generous parishes, organizations, and individuals. This year’s largest donation came from Soles4Souls, which provided 750 pairs of shoes.
More than 100 volunteers served at this year’s Shoe Fest, some washing feet, some sorting school supplies, and others offering warm smiles and encouragement.
“We have over a hundred volunteers at this event, but we have volunteers throughout the year,” Mr. Schuster said. “Without the help of volunteers, there is no way we could do this. There's no way we could, on a daily basis, provide the meals, provide food, provide clothing.”
Any leftover shoes will be kept at the Helping Hands free store or distributed to local schools throughout the year.
From the first foot washed to the last cookie given out, Shoe Fest is a living example of Catholic Charities’ mission: to bring Christ’s love to life through service.
Posted July 28, 2025 at 4:36 pm