How do you turn a Bar Mitzvah project into a nonprofit mobilizing 500 volunteers?

Meet 9th grader Nicholas Lowinger who started donating brand-new footwear to infants, children and teens who were living in homeless shelters.

He founded his organization, Gotta Have Sole, Inc., in an effort to provide children living in shelters, with brand-new footwear.

New shoes not only provide the perfect fit for a child, but they also aid in increasing a child's self-esteem.

Though the company was initially established as a community service project for his Bar Mitzvah that was in November 2010, Nicholas has continued this charitable service.

He personally delivers brand-new footwear to the children in many of the shelters in RI and MA, shelters, and ships footwear to children in shelters in NY, NJ, PA, Washington, DC, TX, CT and NH.

To date, over 3000 children in homeless shelters have received cover 4000 pairs of sneakers, shoes and boots to call their own.

Nicholas hopes to expand into other states as well, as the need arises.

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