Community

Paralympian helps donate 19,000 shoes to homeless

By: WSB-TV Community

ATLANTA – A Gwinnett County family is donating 3,531 “Shoes for Souls” to the Atlanta Mission as temperatures continue to drop.

The project started after the Hermes family hit a rough patch during the recession.

“My dad wasn't selling as many houses as he used to and my mom's job was reduced to part time,” daughter McClain Hermes said. “We had a lot of people come through and help us so my dad and I just wanted to give back to our community that had given so much to us.”

The first year they collected 365 pairs of shoes.

“I’ve always liked to think we've been a giving family, but that time in our life really cemented our need and our want to give back,” father Matt Hermes said.

Despite multiple unexpected medical conditions in their family, the Hermeses have continued the drive year after year.

“The year that we started collecting shoes, I didn’t have any sight problems, but a few months after we delivered the shoes, both of my retinas detached,” McClain said.

Doctors were able to reattach her left retina, but her vision has been decreasing ever since. As her sight diminishes, McClain’s drive only grows. This year she was the youngest  U.S. Paralympian in Rio. She finished eighth in the world in the 100 meter backstroke with just 2 percent of her vision remaining.

“It hasn't stopped me. I think it's probably fueled me even more to go back and help other people because I know how much it means to be helped when you're in trouble and you need help,” McClain said.

Since 2009, the Hermes family has delivered 19,000 pairs of shoes to the Atlanta Mission which shelters 1,000 homeless men, women and children every night.

“They all need a new pair of shoes, so for us this has been a huge blessing for many years to have this supply that we can use now and store for later,” spokesperson Rachel Reynolds said.