Helping Kids Step Joyfully Forward: GSF Foundation Committees Deliver 2,700+ New Pairs of Shoes Nationwide

January 22, 2026 Excitement buzzed through the venue. Children wiggled on the long wooden benches, seated shoulder to shoulder, their feet swinging as “Feliz Navidad” played cheerfully through the speakers. GSF Foundation (GSFF) volunteers lined the front of the room, with shoeboxes stacked neatly like brightly wrapped gifts waiting to be discovered. With the call of the first name, a hush fell, then a spark. A young boy shot up, eyes shining, and sprinted toward the volunteer holding his box. As he lifted the lid, the room seemed to glow a little warmer. He put on the shoes with pride. And just like that, Best Foot Forward distribution day for the GSF Irvine, California committee had begun.

For many of these kids, the shoes provide a confidence boost—a reason to play outside, or simply the joy of having something new that’s truly theirs. That impact stretches far beyond one room. In 2025 alone, GSFF committees distributed more than 2,700 pairs of new shoes to children across the country. Since the program’s inception, the GSF Foundation has provided over 40,000 pairs nationwide, each box carrying encouragement and dignity nurtured by care and kindness.

In Miami, the Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) GSFF committee witnessed this magic firsthand. Their donations benefited the Miami-Dade County Foster & Adoptive Parents Association.

“These are all kids that unfortunately go from home to home,” shared Marco Guerrero, Director of Operations for QCD South Region. “One of the foster moms had three kids, and I was impressed by how much love she showed them.”

One brother-and-sister pair danced together after discovering their shoes were the same color.

“This truly reminds me and the team how fortunate we are to lend a hand,” Marco said. “The fact that these donations come from our hardworking associates makes me very proud.”

Farther north, at QCD Chicago West, the impact multiplied. The committee partnered with McDonald’s Owner/Operators Tanya Lawrence, Laura Herrera, and Edgar Herrera of the Mendez Group to distribute an incredible 969 pairs of shoes to at‑risk children.

“Working with the Mendez Group has been fantastic,” said QCD Chicago West Operations Supervisor Zachary Roach. “One kid told me, ‘These are the coolest shoes ever,’ and that made us feel really good. To see the joy… it’s amazing.”

Their partnership, now in its third year, has provided more than 2,500 pairs of shoes, strengthened through community fundraisers—including one at Willis Tower this past fall.

In City of Industry, California, the joy took on its own rhythm.

“One girl loved her shoes so much she said they were making her dance,” shared GSF Senior Food Scientist Becky Zollo.

Another child twirled proudly, thrilled that her new shoes matched her dress.

“Getting to go into the community and know you’re making a difference brings meaning to the work we do every day,” Becky said. “It’s been a lot of fun seeing the impact we have.”

Across states, across communities, and across hundreds of tiny, joyful moments, GSFF volunteers continue to do what they do best through Best Foot Forward—help children make small steps toward brighter futures filled with possibility.