When he was at the age of six , Benson visited a homeless shelter with his mother.He was 1 to show off his new light­up sneakers.But his mom warned him not to do so , __ 2 __that these children might not have such things. 3 __enough , when Benson met kids at the shelter , he__ 4 __realised his mother was correct and that the children were living in different circumstances from his own. “I saw other kids who looked just like me.The only__ 5 __wes that they were wearing _ 6 _ shoes that were falling apart.Some didn’t have a pair of shoes to call their own , ” said Benson , now 15.“I’ve been__ 7 to grow up in a family that is able to provide me with whatever I need.A lot of kids here in the US don’t have the same_ 8 .” That first shelter __ 9 __left a strong impression on Benson , who started __ 10 __all the shoes he’d outgrown to local shelters.But he soon__ 11 __ that his donations weren’t that helpful. “It__ 12 __me that I only had used shoes to give to them__ 13 __new shoes that fit right , ” he said.“No two people’s feet are exactly the same , and__ 14 __you are wearing someone else’s worn shoes , your feet aren’t going to be comfortable.” So at the age of 12 , Benson started a program that donates __ 15 shoes to homeless children.__ 16 __ , his efforts were part of a community service project.With the help of his parents , he then started the Gotta Have Sole Foundation , which has donated new footwear to more than 10,000__ 17 __children in 21 states. “Something that seems so __ 18 __ , a pair of shoes , can make children feel__ 19 __about themselves and gain confidence.” Benson__ 20 __other young people to do the same.