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Our Sole Reason

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Sole Reason partners with school districts throughout Topeka and surrounding communities to help ensure that children from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade have access to brand-new, properly fitting sneakers. Our partnerships extend beyond the schools themselves to include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Topeka, Family Service & Guidance Center, The Villages, Pathway Family Services, and other organizations serving children and families.

During the 2025–2026 school year, the six major public school districts serving Topeka and its surrounding communities enrolled a combined 27,672 students. These districts include Topeka Public Schools, Auburn-Washburn, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Silver Lake, and Kaw Valley.

The financial challenges facing many of these families are significant. Topeka Public Schools reported that 78% of its students received free or reduced-price meals during the 2023–2024 school year. In neighboring Auburn-Washburn, 2,085 students qualified for these meal programs during 2024–2025. These figures illustrate how economic hardship affects families across district boundaries.

Among the children Sole Reason serves, more than 60% come from households below the poverty level, and more than half live in single-parent households. For families balancing the rising costs of housing, food, utilities, and transportation, purchasing new sneakers can be a difficult expense.

Over the past 10 years, Sole Reason has provided more than 11,000 pairs of brand-new sneakers to children in need. Each pair represents more than footwear. It provides comfort, confidence, dignity, and the opportunity to participate fully in school, recreation, and everyday childhood activities.

For families seeking assistance, the best way to request new sneakers through Sole Reason is to contact their child's school social worker. School social workers help identify students who would benefit from the program and connect families with available resources. Working through schools helps Sole Reason reach children who need assistance while respecting the privacy and dignity of the families we serve.

By bringing together businesses, individuals, schools, and community organizations, Sole Reason helps families meet an essential need while easing financial pressures. We believe every child deserves to walk into school with confidence, regardless of their family's financial circumstances.

Our goal is to give families one less thing to worry about and help children take confident steps toward a brighter future.

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