As part of our ongoing effort to educate our membership about the agencies in our community serving families, children, and youth experiencing homelessness, we are introducing you to Beautiful Soles.
Beautiful Soles is a local agency making a difference in the lives of children, many of whom are experiencing homelessness. What started as a shoe closet for children needing shoes has blossomed into an organization that also provides emergency hotel stays for families. They partner with local schools to provide new shoes and socks for kids who arrive at school with duct tape over holes, or wearing summer sandals in the winter. When a family is scared, living in their car, and left without even hope, the Beautiful Soles team can provide emergency hotel nights and help them find transitional housing.
Imagine going from a cold car to a warm bed, with a kitchen, and a pool to relax, even for a brief moment escaping their reality. Beautiful Soles makes a call out to the community (usually via Facebook) with a needs list – things like clothes, simple meal ingredients, and a treat of activity supplies or a toy for the children.
This is grass roots work, giving life altering hope to these families. They also have “Big Move” events when their families find permanent housing, and the community comes together to furnish them and help get them set up by using a wish list established by Beautiful Soles. In the holiday season, they organize a giant gifting program as well. Take a moment to explore the work they are doing right here in Snohomish County.
https://www.beautifulsoles.org/