A little girl squealed with delight, “My shoes light up! I never had shoes that did that!” She proceeded to gleefully stomp around and show off the lights.

Earlier this week, 78 pairs of brand-new shoes were delivered by Gotta Have Sole, a project started by Rhode Island teenager, Nick Lowinger, after seeing the plight of children in shelters. “Why brand-new?” you ask? Because new shoes help kids feel confident, comfortable, and special.

To date, Nick has put shoes on more than 100,000 children’s feet all over the United States. Today, that compassion hits home. Because of his commitment, the children at McAuley Village and all the children of the Village Without Walls program are jumping, skipping, and livin’ it up in their new shoes.