Community Impact
For 56 years, Shoes and Clothes for Kids has been making a positive impact in the lives of student, teachers, and families. The proof is in the numbers. What began as a small act of generosity from the trunk of one man’s car has grown into a non-profit organization that provides millions of dollars worth of free items to qualified teachers, community partners, and now, directly to families at the Community Resource Center.
In 2024, SC4K provided $2.7 million worth of new shoes, clothes, and school supplies to 28,548 students living in poverty from 48 communities in Greater Cleveland through 1,459 teacher shopping visits and 668 family shopping visits to the SC4K Free Store.
Who We Serve
Over eighty-three percent of the students we serve through our Legacy Program live within the City of Cleveland. According to the most recent US Census, Cleveland has one of the highest child poverty rates in the nation for large cities with 48.8% of the children within the city boundaries living at or below the Federal poverty level. Our Distribution Partners are located in neighborhoods with the highest densities of residents living in poverty. A total of 48 different Cleveland communities are served by SC4K’s current distribution partners and programs!
Our Teacher Resource Center Program is currently our largest program and helps us reach students in need throughout Cuyahoga County. Teachers and School Support Specialists working full-time in schools where 60% or more of the students qualify for the national school lunch program are eligible to shop for free school for classroom supplies at least one time each semester. Representing over 40 different school districts and networks, this program reaches a majority of students helped by our organization.
Our newest program, Direct Service, launched in 2024, serves families at our new location who are referred by the Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center and its partner agencies. This program served 668 new families in 2024 and now operates two days a week in the Cleveland Foundation Direct Service Program Area of our Free Store.
Every time a teacher shops, they receive a cart full of free supplies with an average value of $1,200!
More than New Outfits, New Outlooks
Our numbers tell an important story. However, so much of what we do makes an impact on a heart level. It’s hard to measure the confidence a student feels when they enter a classroom, proudly wearing a new outfit and carrying everything they need to face their day. It’s hard to measure the way a teacher feels when they can easily provide an extra supply item to a student in need without dipping into their own pockets. It's hard to measure the difference we make for our community and distribution partners who stretch tight budgets and limited resources to provide services for the members of their communities. It’s hard to measure the relief a parent feels when their child can choose new shoes off the rack at the SC4K Free Store or use a shoe shopping pass provided to them for free to choose new shoes for their child.
Our most recent Highlights and Impact Report shares measurements of these successes by the numbers. You can also visit Success Stories, for more individual stories about the difference SC4K makes.