A step ahead: Essential Kicks™

Our commute portfolio starts with the basics by asking: do you have comfortable, quality, certified non-slip shoes to support your feet? With Manzanita Works' Essential Kicks™ program, qualified workers can access a free pair of shoes to get the support they need.

No matter how someone commutes to work, the right non-slip footwear is essential for workers whose jobs require walking and prolonged standing. Quality footwear is especially important in preventing injury and increasing daily comfort. Many essential workers remain on their feet for extended periods of time on hard or slippery surfaces, particularly surfaces that get wet or oily, such as those in restaurants, grocery stores, health clinics and school settings.

In doing our commute outreach, we heard that the cost of quality non-slip shoes is unrealistic for many in the service sector. Taking the time to research and get properly sized for such shoes is also a challenge many essential workers postpone making an investment into professional footwear and wear shoes long past their effectiveness. When thinking about trying other ways of commuting to work, the idea of walking to the train or a bus stop is just one too many sore footsteps after a long day at work.

We listened to your feedback and now with generous help from local donors, Manzanita Works is pleased to announce our collaboration with local service providers Footwear Etc. and KEEN to connect essential workers to their choice of a free pair of shoes from among a selection of great styles*.

Footwear Etc. is a family-run business that has served the San Francisco Bay Area since 1986. Program participants can go to its Los Altos or San Carlos brick and mortar stores to select from HOKA and Dansko XP 2.0 styles for women or Clark's PRO Free, HOKA and Dansko XP 2.0 styles for men.

At KEEN Footwear's store in Palo Alto, program participants can learn all about their Consciously Created brand products and the awesome styles they can pick from for the Essential Kicks™ program. The KEEN Garage Palo Alto is a place to experience the heart of the KEEN brand. More than a footwear store, it brings KEEN’s values to life through thoughtfully designed products, a focus on comfort and durability, and a commitment to creating responsibly. It’s where purpose meets performance, and where people can explore the styles built for work, play, and everyday adventure, all in one welcoming space.

To learn more about the program, visit our website and if you'd like to participate, scroll to the bottom of the program page to sign our Essential Kicks Interest List.

This program is supported by the generous donations of private individuals in our community. Donations are welcome by selecting the "Manzanita Works" fund through our fiscal sponsor Philanthropic Ventures Foundation.

*While quantities last with a limit of one pair per person in a calendar year.

Manzanita Works is a Caltrain Regional Partner for 2026, connecting qualified essential workers to the local rail agency's Pass Forward program since the program's inception in 2021. If you are interested in participating in 2026, please fill out our Pass Forward Interest Survey and we can then connect you with the SamTrans survey the public agency administers for Caltrain. Once both are completed and riders are qualified and approved, we meet up to provide you with your card for use in 2026. Note: educators are ineligible for this program in 2026 unless they are a returning participant and are within the income thresholds.

It has been great to see our inventory of e-bike loaners get into the hands of essential workers who live or work in Redwood City these past few months. Our Essential Wheels® program is now touching residents in many communities and we are excited to share that more grants and sponsorships are forthcoming to add inventory to serve people from additional communities in the Bay Area.

"It has been a great way to introduce the world of bikes to me, and the benefit of them on my health, and the idea that I am more likely to own one for myself. I've been looking into them for commute, especially ones that can carry my payload, as a therapist." Essential Wheels participant

If you are an essential worker who is interested in borrowing an e-bike for free for up to one year, visit our program website to learn more and add your name to our Essential Wheels Interest List for when additional e-bikes become available.

Our tool lending library, Essential Tools™, is humming along with 58 members who are residents across 17 communities in two Counties. Essential Tools™ Members can borrow items in the inventory for free on a weekly basis and receive discounts at Hassett Ace Hardware Stores. If you didn't see it in November, check out the local press coverage of the program from Redwood City Pulse!

"I have been having a positive experience with the program. It's been a great way to obtain tools that I may not need to own but only use occasionally or just once." Essential Tools member

We are honored to be collaborating with the San Mateo County Office of Emergency Management and the Sustainability Department on key initiatives. More news on that this year but in the meantime, you can join the program here.

Manzanita Works, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting the workforce and their families live fruitful, dignified lives. We have been a fiscally sponsored project of Philanthropic Ventures Foundation and are focused on helping essential workers close the gaps that interrupt their ability to come to work in 6 program areas: housing, commute, health, food security, family care and the future of work.