About New Steps

We're on a mission to make sports accessible for everyone by connecting gently used sports shoes with athletes who need them.

Our Mission

Returning Dreams to Action: We want your beloved shoes to return to the fields and tracks where they can continue to fuel new dreams and aspirations, giving them purpose beyond their original journey.

Empowering Athletes: We believe that every athlete deserves the right equipment to pursue their passion, regardless of financial circumstances.

Promoting Sustainability: By giving gently used sports shoes a second life, we're reducing waste and environmental impact.

Building Community: We're creating connections between donors and recipients, fostering a community of support and shared values.

Join Our Mission

Our Story

The Beginning (2023)

New Steps was founded by Walter Zhang after noticing the large number of perfectly usable sports shoes being discarded while many student athletes couldn't afford the equipment they needed. What started as a small community initiative in San Ramon quickly grew into something bigger.

Growing Our Impact (2024)

As word spread, more volunteers joined our cause, and we expanded our operations to serve the entire Bay Area. We partnered with local schools, sports clubs, and community organizations to reach more athletes in need. Our network of donors and recipients expanded dramatically.

Today & Beyond (2025)

Today, New Steps continues to grow, with hundreds of shoes donated and matched with athletes across California. Our vision is to expand nationwide, creating a sustainable ecosystem of sports equipment sharing that benefits communities and the environment. We're constantly innovating our processes to make donating and receiving shoes as seamless as possible.

Meet Our Team

Walter Zhang

Founder & Director

Providing visionary leadership, setting strategic direction, making key decisions, and ensuring the mission of connecting athletes with quality sports shoes remains at the heart of every initiative

9th grade student, Doughty Valley High School, San Ramon, CA, and a soccer player in MLSNext 2010B, De Anza Force Soccer Club.

Winston Zhang

Technical and Operation Manager

Overseeing daily operations, managing inventory systems, coordinating donation logistics, processing shoe requests, and ensuring efficient workflows from donation intake to delivery

12th Grade, Quarry Lane School soccer player, MLSNext Academy, De Anza Force

Join Our Mission

Whether you're donating shoes, requesting them, or volunteering your time, you're making a difference in your community.

Send Your Shoes Back to Action Get Involved