Allina Health Gives Away Thousands of Shoes To Kids

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Thousands of kids will be walking a little prouder with a new pair of shoes Saturday.

It's part of Allina Health's "New Shoes, Healthy Kids" initiative.

Allina Health bought 10,000 pairs of athletic shoes with the help of Two Ten Foundation, The Jay Group and Keds.

Kids ages 6 through 12 were fitted with the new shoes at 30 locations in Minnesota and Western Wisconsi Saturday.

"These are shoes for kids who might not otherwise have access to a new pair of shoes. And that's important to us because new shoes promote exercise, healthy play and healthy self esteem that leads to good learning," Allina Health's David Kanihan said.

Both kids and Allina Health volunteers had smiles on their faces as the kids picked out their new shoes.