Why Runners In Need Exists
The numbers tell a clear story: gear costs keep kids from running.
The Problem
46%
increase in youth sports costs since 2019
$120–$275
cost of a pair of quality running shoes
2x
gap in sports participation between low and high-income families
22%
of kids from families under $25K play organized sports (vs 43% above $100K)
Running is one of the most accessible sports — all you need is a pair of shoes. But when a decent pair costs $120 or more, that barrier is real for millions of families.
School coaches post on DonorsChoose asking for track shoes because they have no other option. A teacher in the Bronx needs shoes for 350 students — some of whom have no athletic footwear at all. A coach in rural Minnesota needs proper running shoes for just 10 kids but can’t find a way to get them.
Meanwhile, Runners Have Gear to Give
Every runner knows the feeling: a closet full of shoes that didn’t fit right, last season’s racing flats with plenty of life left, race shirts from events you can’t even remember, finisher medals collecting dust.
Runners replace shoes every 300–500 miles. Running store employees see discontinued models that could change a kid’s season. Marathon expos hand out more gear than any one person can use.
The supply exists. The demand exists. They just aren’t connected.
What’s Missing
Existing donation programs collect shoes in bulk — drop a pair in a bin and hope it ends up somewhere useful. That works for volume, but it doesn’t solve the coach who needs three pairs of size 7 women’s racing flats by next month.
Organizations like Soles4Souls and One World Running do important work, but they’re one-directional: donors give, charities distribute. There’s no way for a program director to say “here’s exactly what we need” and for a runner in the next town over to say “I have exactly that.”
No platform currently offers:
- Organizers posting specific gear needs — exact sizes, types, quantities
- Donors browsing those requests and pledging what they have
- Direct coordination between both sides
- Running-specific focus with community understanding
How Runners In Need Works
Organizers post what their runners need
Coaches, program directors, and club leaders describe exactly what gear they need — sizes, quantities, condition, and timing.
Donors browse and pledge
Find needs near you by location and category. See exactly what’s needed and commit to providing it.
Coordinate delivery
Message the organizer directly to arrange shipping or local drop-off. No middleman, no delay.
Confirm and continue
Organizers confirm receipt. If a need is partially filled, remaining items automatically carry forward so nothing falls through the cracks.
Who This Serves
Organizations
- High school cross country and track teams
- Youth running clubs and after-school programs
- Community running groups
- Programs serving underserved communities
- Organizations like Girls on the Run, Back on My Feet
Donors
- Runners with extra shoes and gear
- Running store employees with discontinued stock
- Race organizers with surplus apparel
- Brands and retailers with end-of-line inventory
- Anyone who wants to help a runner in their community
Every pair of shoes makes a difference.