Homepage

Teen Creates “Cleats For Feet” High School Junior Creates Cleats For Feet

A program that gives used athletic shoes to those in need

By Morgan Alexander

(REPORTER)
When Romi Laclair was eleven years old she discovered a passion for helping others by collecting cleats and redistributing them to people in need.

(ROMI LACLAIR)
“I think to myself I have so many pairs of cleats that look brand new in my house and I’m sure you do too and everyone else does so why not give a kid who can’t have a new pair of cleats a newish pair of cleats”

(REPORTER)
Laclair was shocked at how many people in her own community took advantage of this cleat swap and now five years later “Cleats for Feet” has handed out over 800 pairs of cleats.

(ROMI)
“One time I had a little boy he came in here with his mother and his four siblings uhm I could tell that she was struggling and fortunately because of my aunt who had donated a pair of brand new cleats I was able to give that little boy a pair of cleats in a box”

(REPORTER)
Laclair has open houses for kids to stop by and pick out a pair of cleats before every sports season. With indoor soccer season in full swing kids are excited to be able to show off their new pair of shoes.

(SIMON SUIBER)
“I like it a lot cause I feel like they are gonna work in soccer when I start getting signed up and I really really like them”

(REPORTER)
Simon Suiber is one of the children that stopped by the open house and says that soccer is one of his favorite sports and could not imagine not being able to play with all of his friends.

(SIMON)
“If I didn’t have soccer shoes and then I wouldn’t be able to play soccer”

(REPORTER)
“Romi is going to be holding an open house in early march where kids can come in and pick up shoes just like this for their upcoming spring sports season, Morgan Alexander NCC News”

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (NCC News)-  Romi Laclair is a junior at South Jefferson High School. She has decided that her love for sports has pushed her to give opportunities to those who are not as fortunate as her. She is the founder of  a non profit called Cleats for Feet which takes in new or used athletic shoes and gives them out to people in need.

“I totally value sports and the connections you make with friends and coaches. The values you can get from sports are like nothing else,” said Romi Laclair, founder of Cleats for Feet.

Laclair said she feels a sense of excitement when she sees the look on children’s faces when they pick up a new pair of cleats. She has even taken her passion for helping others to Africa as she traveled there last summer to donate cleats to those in need overseas.

“I have given over 800 pairs of cleats away in our community as well as to kids in other communities,” Laclair said.

Laclair said that especially with young children’s feet growing so fast its hard for parents to afford to keep buying them new pairs so to have a pair that looks brand new and get them for free puts a smile on so many young kids faces.

“I feel bad if I didn’t have soccer shoes because I couldn’t play soccer with my friends,” said Simon Suiber one of the shoe recipients.

Laclair will be holding more open houses before every sports season. To get in contact with her visit her facebook page. 

Related Articles