Magoo’s shoes is a perfect fit for 350 kids in Santa Barbara County
ISLA VISTA, Calif. - With a donation of 350 pairs of shoes, a select group of kids will be able to put their best foot forward when they return to school next month.
The non-profit Magoo's shoes is part of locally based Idea Engineering.
Together, they've laced up a relationship with Deckers and the United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County along with the Goleta Unified School District, to help kids with families that would not be able to afford the top quality shoes that they've been given in this program.
The kids were shuttled to the distribution spot at Isla Vista Elementary School throughout the day.
There, they were greeted by Deckers employees from the Goleta headquarters and regional stores.
Nearby were stacks of shoe boxes and a table with the sample choices for the kids.
United Boys & Girls Club of Santa Barbara County Board President Roger Acevas looked over the room and said, "Look at the kids, look at their smiles, they're going to go home and show their parents and they got it for free."
With each group of arriving kids, there was a positive expression.
"One of the kids was so excited and said we're going to get new shoes today," said Frances Contreras with the United Boys & Girls Club.
Acevas said, "some of these kids, this is the first time they get a shoe of this quality, it is custom for them. They get to pick the color, size, the style they go home with a great new pair of shoes."
Mateo Caballos is a Santa Ynez Valley student who said, "I like the color and how they are soft inside." He planned to use them for running. "Either work out or take them on runs."
Ivana Hernandez from the Santa Ynez Valley was also in the group and said, "they are really comfortable and I like them because they have really unique colors."
Her friend, Revyn Smith said, "mine is a different color and I think they are really comfortable."
Deckers Senior Store Manager, Travis Jones said last year the event was in the store on Hollister Avenue and the vast array of choices was overwhelming.
This year, they decided to narrow the selection.
"We really wanted shoes that they could wear to go back to school," said Jones. He wanted the kids to have all year shoes. "We narrowed it down to Hoka, Ugg and Teva."
For these kids it is uplifting to their self esteem in many ways.
Contreras said, "shoes are very much a need, right? Not a want, so it is extremely special."
Simon Dixon is the Idea Engineering CEO who developed Magoo Shoes years ago through Washington Elementary school with about 25 kids. He has seen the donations, community reach and benefits grow each year.
"We have kids who come to Magoo's shoes with shoe's held together with duct tape and they leave Magoo's shoes with brand new shoes on their feet and that's a huge difference you can see it on the kids faces," said Dixon.
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