Amazing Kid: Girl, 11, Collects and Donates More Than 3,000 Pairs of Shoes

While most 11-year-olds are concerned with middle school politics and playing the hot new video game, Olivia Wright of Hendersonville, Tenn., is busy helping those who can't afford to buy their own shoes.

Wright founded Tennessee H.U.G.S. (Help Us Give Shoes) to gather footwear for underprivileged children and adults, and focuses her efforts primarily on those who live in the Appalachian Mountains. She organizes shoe drives across her home state and also solicits donations from across the country. Not only does Wright collect the shoes, she also makes sure they get cleaned, sanitized and generally made fit for wear.

To date, Wright has collected more than 3,000 pairs of shoes -- including some for survivors of the horrific January earthquake in Haiti -- and that is just one reason why she is a Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes semi-finalist. Now in its seventh year, the program recognizes outstanding kids for their contributions and community service by awarding 10 children a $7,500 scholarship each and another $2,500 to donate to their pet charitable causes. The winners will be announced on June 16.

ParentDish recently talked with Wright about her cause, why young kids should volunteer and what she wants to be when she grows up.

ParentDish: How old were you when you started volunteering?
Olivia Wright: I first started volunteering when I was almost 7 years old. My mom and I were looking for ways I could help, and we found out that most of the charities I wanted to help with could not allow children to help. For instance, the Ronald McDonald House has a strict policy because so many of the children are too sick to have visitors. I was looking at their website, and found that they have a wish list of things they need, and that is when I decided to have a Yard Sale/Wish List Drive for them, and this fall will be our fifth event at my house.

I also wrote (to) the Nashville Zoo when I was 7 and asked if I could even just pick up trash for them, since I was too young to volunteer. They let me volunteer with my mom. I knew I couldn't touch the animals, but I was making a difference for them just by working around the zoo. I have a passion for volunteering and can't get enough of helping others.

PD: We hear that you and your family personally deliver the shoes to families in need. What's that like?
OW: I have personally delivered the shoes to the Appalachian Mountains twice, but didn't get to hand them out. I was so disappointed, but soon I will be taking a truck load with my mom, and me, my mom, my friend and my little brother are going to get to hand them out to children at a clothing drive in Kentucky. I am so excited to finally get to meet some of the children who are getting H.U.G.S. shoes.

I will tell you that the last time we delivered the shoes to Appalachia, one of the ladies told us a man had come up with his three children, chose shoes for them to start school with and he cried because he was so thankful. That inspired me to collect more shoes. It is very difficult, knowing that I am so blessed when others do not have the basic things I never have to worry about. But I can help them and they will know other people love them.

PD: How has seeing so many kids your own age who don't have the basics like shoes changed you?
OW: One way I have been changed by my project is when other people who used to live in the Appalachian Mountains come up to me and say thank you, because they say that most people don't understand how poor some of the people are there. They will tell me stories about families or kids there, and it makes me want to do more.

Also, every pair of shoes that my mom and dad buy me is more appreciated now. I still love cute shoes, but I love knowing that someone else will enjoy them after I do. I work to keep them clean and in good shape, so others can use them.

PD: What made you decide to donate some of the shoes you collected to Haiti?
OW: When I saw Haiti, I was devastated. I was like everyone else, and stayed glued to the TV. Well, I posted on my Facebook page that we were going to collect shoes for them, and so many kids wanted to help. I didn't want to take away shoes that kids here in the U.S. needed, so we did extra shoe drives. My friend from first grade contacted me and did a shoe drive at her school. They collected over 1,300 pairs of shoes for Haiti.

Because H.U.G.S. couldn't afford to ship them, Soles4Souls helped us by taking our shoes and shipping them for us. I love to think of the smile on a little boy or girl when they get a nice pair of shoes for school, or a pair of dance shoes someone donated so they can dance, or a pair of cleats so they can now play ball.

PD: Starting your community service at such a young age is very inspiring to us. Will you continue to volunteer as you get older?
OW: I have a passion for volunteering. It's a part of who I am, and I plan to always be active in my community and inspire other people to volunteer, too. Sometimes people ask my mom, "How do you guys do all that community service? My kids don't have time." Well, really, you do. Sometimes you just have to put down the (video game) or wake up early on a Saturday morning to reach out. It's fun to get a group of friends together and volunteer together. Sometimes you just have to ask an organization if there is anything you can do. Usually, they will find you some way to help. My goal is to have H.U.G.S. in every state in five years. I plan to always lead H.U.G.S., all the way through high school, college and then let my kids help me one day.

PD: Why should kids volunteer?
OW: I think volunteering is a good way to keep your kids doing positive things, and out in their community making a difference. I call it "giving back." I would like to know that if something ever happened to me and my family like getting sick suddenly or losing our job and home, that someone would want to hug on us and help us. So many people need H.U.G.S. and want to know others care. If you do it just once, you might be hooked. It is a really good feeling knowing you helped.

PD: How have your parents influenced you?
OW: Oh, I couldn't do Tennessee H.U.G.S. without my family and my mom, especially. She encourages us to work very hard with my project and if I do it, do it right. Every shoe has to be (sanitized) and tied together and she is good about getting other people to help us when they can. She does a lot of encouraging -- keeping us focused on the goal -- which is delivering the shoes all organized. She also teaches me how important it is to thank everyone who helps you and encouraging them to tell others. She also teaches us to have fun.

PD: What do you want to do when you grow up?
OW: Well, I really want to be a doctor and go to Vanderbilt University when I graduate high school. I love medicine and people. But I also have a deep love for acting, singing, writing and drawing, so you never know. Whatever it is, I promise I will be a volunteer, too. I hope I have a family who volunteers just like mine.

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