The $100 Shoes: One Cold Night, One Simple Act, and the Kindness That Warmed the World.
It was one of those bitterly cold New York City nights — the kind where frost clings to the sidewalks and the wind slices through every layer of clothing. On 44th Street and Broadway, NYPD Officer Lawrence “Larry” DePrimo, just 25 years old, spotted something that made him stop mid-stride.
A homeless man sat barefoot on the freezing concrete.
His feet were swollen, red, blistered from exposure. His clothing was little more than worn, thinning layers that did nothing against the winter air. Hundreds of people streamed past him — some staring, some pretending not to see, some laughing as they hurried by.
Larry didn’t hurry. He crouched beside the man and asked gently, “Hey, buddy, where are your shoes?”
The man smiled weakly. “I’ve never had a pair. But God bless you for asking.”
Something inside Larry twisted. He’d seen hardship before, but this moment hit harder than usual. “It was freezing out there,” he later said. “I just couldn’t let him sit there like that.”
So he ran — literally — down the block to a nearby Skechers store. With his badge still visible, he told the clerk, “I need the warmest boots you’ve got — size ten and a half.” The employee, moved by the urgency, gave him a heavy discount. Larry pulled out his own wallet and paid about $100 — plus thick wool socks.
Just minutes later, he was back at the man’s side, kneeling again as he helped him slide on the socks and lace up the new boots. “These should keep you warm tonight,” he said softly.
The man stared at his feet, then up at Larry. His eyes glistened.
“God bless you,” he whispered.
Larry nodded. “Just stay warm, okay?”
He had no idea someone had captured the moment.