BeTempered Episode 112 – More Than Shoes: Restoring Dignity for Children with Kris Horlacher

A kid tries to play basketball while limping, then pulls off his shoes and reveals socks soaked in blood. That single moment became the catalyst for everything Kris Horlacher would build through Shoes 4 The Shoeless. What started as one heartbreaking realization has grown into a nonprofit that has provided properly fitting shoes and socks to well over 200,000 children across Southwest Ohio, restoring dignity one child at a time. Dan Schmidt and Ben Spahr sit down with Kris to hear the story behind the mission and the lessons she's learned while leading one of the region's most impactful nonprofits. From her years as a registered nurse working in emergency medicine, trauma care, disaster relief, and public health, to mentoring children living in poverty, Kris explains how those experiences prepared her to recognize a need almost everyone else overlooked. She shares why correctly measuring every child's feet is non-negotiable, why socks are often the greatest need, how volunteers make school distributions run like clockwork, and why something as simple as a new pair of shoes can dramatically change a child's confidence, health, and future.The conversation also dives into the realities of nonprofit leadership. Kris opens up about criticism from people who think they know better, navigating legal challenges as a faith-based organization serving public schools, building trust with school districts, and why deciding who is "deserving" of help often misses the point entirely. She also explains why empathy isn't something we're born with, but something that must be intentionally taught and practiced through what she calls "eye-to-eye service."Whether you're passionate about serving your community, leading a nonprofit, raising empathetic children, or simply looking for a reminder that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference, this conversation offers both practical wisdom and genuine hope. Sometimes changing a life starts with something as simple as making sure a child has shoes that actually fit.Learn more about Shoes 4 The Shoeless or find ways to volunteer and support their mission at shoes4theshoeless.org. Listen now at betempered.comSupport the show and get exclusive content at patreon.com/betemperedSend us Fan Mail Support the show