WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A 10-year-old is making a difference in our community one pair of shoes at a time.

For three years, Gunner robinson has decided to ask for shoes instead of gifts for his August 15 birthday. Every pair he collects goes back to children in the community who may otherwise not get a new pair for the new school year.

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He’s already given nearly 600 pairs of shoes to kids and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.

“I’ve always got shoes, like new shoes for school (nice ones), and I want other kids to get them too,” Gunner said.

Saturday he purchased more than 30 new pairs, at Shoe Carnival, thanks to donation money from the Pender High School’s Class of 1991 reunion. Shoe Carnival is giving a discount to those who mention “Gunner’s Runners” this weekend.

During the past two year, he’s already given nearly 600 pairs of shoes to kids in the community with his organization. His parents said something that started as a small idea has caught on around the community and they couldn’t be more proud.

“Words can’t even describe how proud we are of him because it was his idea, his doings,” Kristi Robinson said.

For gunner, it’s not about the recognition. He said he just feels like he’s helping someone.

“It just makes me feel better for other kids because they’re getting new shoes for the new school year,” he said.

Donation boxes will be at four area businesses until August 15. Once all the shoes are collected, the family will give them to a social worker to distribute to kids just in time to start the school year.

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Donation boxes can be found at Hard Knox Cycles in Wilmington, State Employees’ Credit Union in Burgaw, Bowman’s Seafood in Carolina Beach, and Ganey Byrd & Dunn Insurance in Leland.