Washington boy, 12, donates shoes for his birthday

A 12-year-old boy in Washington state is celebrating his birthday by helping others.

Instead of unwrapping gifts for himself, Spokane Valley’s Raesean Eaton is asking for shoe donations for the Union Gospel Mission.

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The organization provides food, shelter, recovery and care for those in need.

“My goal is however many I can get,” Eaton told KHQ of his birthday shoe collection.

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Eaton came up with the idea around a year ago following a shopping trip with his mother to a furniture store.

At the store Eaton encountered a man named Jason, who explained that he was once homeless.

“Jason was there and I didn't know who he was at first but he looked like my football coach from the back of him and I just went up to him saying hi,” he said. “He told me that the community helped him get back on his feet.”

“You can change the world by changing yourself first,” Eaton said. “I want to be a person in the community helping somebody like how they helped him.”

Donations can be dropped off at the furniture store. Eaton currently has more than 40 pairs of shoes.