Our Story

My name is Grethe Hedrick, and I founded Shoes on Their Feet with one simple goal: to provide shoes for people in need.

This mission began years ago when I was a child in Beaverton, Oregon, where my father served as a pastor. One summer, our church planned a trip to Agua Prieta, Mexico. A man in our congregation who worked at Nike arranged for us to bring 100 pairs of “slightly imperfect” Nikes to the mission church there. I will never forget handing out those shoes to children and adults in the community. The joy on their faces left a lasting impression on me.

Fast forward nearly 40 years, and that memory still burns brightly. In March of 2022, I felt called to do it again. During a family trip to visit an orphanage in Mexico, I set up a GoFundMe and raised $2,400. With that support, we purchased 80 pairs of shoes—one for each child at the orphanage. Handing them out was a moment of pure joy, filled with smiles, laughter, and gratitude. This time, my own children stood beside me, experiencing the same blessing I had as a child.

That trip confirmed what had been on my heart for years: the simple gift of shoes can bring dignity, hope, and joy. Today, through Shoes on Their Feet, we partner with local ministries in the greater Phoenix area to continue that mission—one pair at a time.