Mission in DTLA helps donate new shoes, clothes, school supplies to kids in need

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It was an early Christmas for thousands of impoverished children living near Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles as a local mission was helping give away brand new shoes, clothes and much-needed school supplies.

Volunteers gathered at the Fred Jordan Missions: Los Angeles Mission at the corner of 5th Street and Town Avenue for a 28th annual back-to-school new clothing giveaway.

"I still remember how humiliated I was when the teacher looked down and said 'Willie Lou, where are your shoes?' And when I came to the mission and saw an opportunity to help kids, I thought 'I don't want them to be embarrassed, humiliated by insensitive people,'" said Willie Jordan, the mission's president.

The mission served over 4,000 underprivileged children with brand new backpacks, clothes, haircuts from Paul Mitchell and a tasty In-N-Out burger. Teaming up with Footlocker also allowed the mission to hand over 135,000 brand new shoes, including Nike Jordans, Adidas and Converse.

All donations, worth a total of $2 million, went to families from all around Los Angeles County.

"They give out material and backpacks and shoes, especially, which a lot of people need them," said donation recipient Daniel Zaragoza. "And I'm thankful for the people that do this."