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© 2025 KidsCan. All rights reserved.

KidsCan Charitable Trust is registered under the Charities Act 2005 CC10386

Keeping kids warm

Each year, we provide more than 50,000 jackets and 40,000 pairs of shoes to children in our partner schools and ECEs – so they can arrive in the classroom warm, dry and ready to participate.
School Support ECE Support
KidsCan-Henderson-Intermediate-Students-Teacher

Why jackets and shoes?

In New Zealand, 157,000 children live in material hardship, going without essentials many of us take for granted – like good shoes or a warm raincoat. Not having adequate clothing creates daily challenges that impact their education. Children will stay home when it rains, or arrive at school cold, wet, and unable to focus in class. They will often miss out on sport and school trips – all opportunities to learn, grow and develop strong social skills. We aim to level the playing field – one quality pair of shoes, one warm rain jacket at a time.

What we provide in schools and early childhood centres

Children at our partner schools and early childhood centres love receiving their KidsCan jackets and shoes. For some, it’s the first new item they’ve owned.
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    Jackets

    Waterproof and fleece-lined, these jackets don’t just protect children from the rain and cold – they allow them to join in outdoor activities with their friends and feel like they belong. Schools and ECEs centres can order jackets for every student, helping to reduce stigma. It means children arrive in class warm, dry, and ready to learn.​
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    Shoes and socks

    KidsCan provides quality shoes and warm socks to any child who needs them. In our partner early childhood centres, every child receives a pair of shoes and socks. In our partner schools, teachers order shoes as needed, so they can discreetly replace shoes that are worn or full of holes. With sturdy, closed-in shoes, children can participate in tech subjects, trips and sports. We offer a range of styles. Best of all, kids tell us they make them run fast!
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    Gumboots

    Children at our partner early ​childhood education centres also receive cute gumboots ​with a dinosaur image on the side. ​These are a massive hit with ​little ones, allowing them to ​​explore outside on rainy days ​and splash in puddles to ​their hearts’ content.
KidsCan-Henderson-Intermediate-Basketball
He’s a superstar – but he didn’t want to put himself forward for the basketball team because he didn’t have any shoes. But the cool part is that I found him a pair of KidsCan shoes, and it lit him up. He chucked them on and was ready to rock and roll. He then went straight through to trial for the basketball team and ended up being the Player of the Year.

Teacher at a partner school

Every year, this is what your support helps make possible

Last year we distributed tens of thousands of jackets, shoes and gumboots to kids in hardship.
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    The number of jackets children received in 2024
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    The number of shoes and socks children received in 2024

Learn more about what we provide

  • Our Programmes

    We deliver our school and early childhood programmes right across the country, focusing on food, clothing, and health.
    Learn More
  • KidsCan-Henderson-Intermediate-Basketball

    Health

    We provide headlice treatment and combs to schools and early childhood education centres across New Zealand.
    Learn more
  • KidsCan-our-programmes-health-ece-child-eating

    Food

    We help fuel tens of thousands of children with nutritious food so they can learn.
    Learn more