Second hand shoes

[Sarrahx91]

Hi.
My child is set to return to school soon, and I can't exactly afford new shoes, what with everything going on. His current shoes are pretty worn and have a few small holes. Now the school he attends if offering to give out a pair of pre-loved shoes for free. I want to accept but feel like he may be picked on because of it or maybe I feel ashamed in accepting them.
Is this something anyone else would consider if they required "new" shoes, or rather shoes in much better condition than the current.

Don't feel ashamed! I buy lots of things second-hand even though I could afford new, it's better for the planet and children outgrow their shoes so fast it's a lot of waste. If these are good quality and fit well I'd definitely take them if I was you and not feel any shame about it. Give them a good polish up and there's no reasons his classmates need to know or pick on him for them?

If you do feel any kind of passing pang of guilt, can you look on it as a pay it forward type thing, that by accepting these shoes you are making a future pledge to give something of equal value to someone else who is struggling in future at such time as you can afford to, like a deferred payment type thing?

How would the others kids know?

How will the other kids know that they’re secondhand shoes? I doubt anyone will remember exactly what he last pair of school shoes looked like, realize the pair he’s wearing are not the same, and then figure out that means they must be secondhand.

Nothing to be ashamed of and the other kids won’t know anyway.

Thank you for your messages. Its helped me alot, I hope he enjoys the pre-loved shoes when I get them :)

If you feel you need a reason other than it making sense, think about the good environmental impact from reusing things rather than them being chucked.

I'm sure the school wouldn't give you anything that wasn't in excellent condition. Nothing to be ashamed of at all - all my dc's wore hand me downs if they were in good condition!

Also OP, when I was younger we were hard up and I always received free school shoes. A quick google tells me there is something called a "school uniform grant" available where if eligible you get up to £110 for school uniform. Maybe that is worth investigating?

OP this makes me sad as I am in a poor financial situation and would feel the same as you. As others have said, how will he/anyone know but I know if it was me in the same position I would feel the same as you.
I always give my son's outgrown clothes and trainers away which are always in immaculate condition, often to people who are much much better off than I will ever be. They happily accept things for free so why should those who genuinely need help feel ashamed.

I really hope he loves his new shoes xx

I was also going to say, I really can't see the school giving anything away that wasn't in very good condition anyway x