For most Bay Area children the first day of school means a chance to show off a brand new back-to-school outfit, new jeans, new shoes, and maybe a new backpack. But for homeless and very low-income children it’s a very different kind of feeling. Many of these children have never owned anything new.

The Clothing for Confidence program provides these deserving children with $50 gift cards to major clothing retailers and a pair of brand new shoes, giving them the chance to celebrate the back-to-school season with confidence and pride. Providing new clothes and shoes to homeless youth not only increases their school attendance (and therefore their odds of educational success) it gives them a chance to fit in–and that’s the first step towards standing out.

Who We Serve
My New Red Shoes’ Clothing for Confidence Program serves homeless children ages 5-18 in the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Marin counties. The program served a diverse racial demographic of 46% Hispanic, 22% Asian, 18% African American, 7% Caucasian, and 7% Multiracial. Demographics are expected to be similar in 2012.