The track team at Terra Vista Middle School got a big surprise on Monday: free track cleats from Under Armour.
“Walk in Their Shoes,” a nonprofit organization that provides apparel and athletic gear to kids in need, worked alongside Under Armour to supply these student-athletes with new shoes. Their goal is to promote a student’s “high self-esteem and life skills” at a young age.
“It’s more beneficial for us and as a community to start transitioning our kids in middle school to believe in themselves and want to do more,” said Natalie Craig, founder of the organization.
The organization typically services the Texas Boys Ranch, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch and the Children’s Home of Lubbock, but when they began their partnership with Under Armour’s nonprofit division, they knew they could do more.
“They saw us give 489 shoes throughout the community last summer. Once they saw us distribute those, they decided to give us 17,000 pieces,” she said.
Their goal is to “keep having consistency” when supporting the youth, said Cqulin Hubert, an assistant teacher at Terra Vista and volunteer for Walk in Their Shoes.
Coming from a difficult upbringing, Hubert said he knows how important these gifts are to the kids.
The organization began nine months ago but quickly solidified its foundation. They travel beyond the boundaries of the Lubbock community, giving students the same opportunities in places like Fort Worth, Amarillo, Tahoka, Shallowater, Paducah and Crosbyton.
They journey to Levelland next to support their softball teams.
“I know one day Walk in Their Shoes will be the best nonprofit organization out there in the world,” said Hubert.
