"I've Never Had New Shoes Before" – The Problem No One Sees | Casey Crouse, New Shoe Day

On today's show I sat down with Casey Crouse, founder and executive director of New Shoe Day, about ending shoe insecurity for Hoosier youth so kids can move, participate, and thrive with dignity.

Casey traces his life of service to the 2005 death of his sister Ashley, an IU Dance Marathon leader, and how launching Carmel High School Dance Marathon in her honor led him to IU and eventually becoming IUDM president in 2009.

In 2020, Casey and Trevor Dewitt created "1001 City," running 10 miles a day for 100 days across Indianapolis, meeting residents and sparking the "New Shoe Day" idea through small acts of kindness that grew into a GoFundMe.

New Shoe Day became a 501(c)(3) in 2021, expanded demand in 2023, distributed about 3,500 pairs in 2024 and 5,500 in 2025, and now operates shoe pantries and partner projects statewide. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - The Creation of "1001 City" and Run Club - How New Shoe Day Grew from Acts of Kindness to a GoFundMe and 501(c)(3) - Indiana Shoe Banks

Thank you to our partners: Elements Financial

Check out these great clips from the show: 01:36 Guest Introduction: Casey Crouse, New Shoe Day 03:59 Sister Ashley Legacy 07:30 Carmel Dance Marathon 11:20 Choosing IU and IUDM 17:22 Endurance to Fundraise 20:15 1001 City Challenge 25:58 Stories From the Streets 29:01 New Shoe Day Begins 38:36 From Project to Nonprofit 39:39 Run Club Origins 40:36 Launching New Shoe Day 42:52 Sourcing Shoes Early 44:39 Demand Surge Indicators 45:32 Big 1200 Pair Project 47:11 Defining Shoe Insecurity 51:51 Scaling Beyond Events 54:29 Indiana Shoe Bank Model 55:51 Going Full Time Leap 59:43 Building Operations Roadmap 01:02:28 Corporate Partners Support 01:03:54 How To Get Involved 01:06:30 Indiana Quickfire Questions

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