He's not the only one turning compassion into action across our community.

For some, giving back comes through a hot meal, for others, it starts with something much simpler, an old pair of shoes.

He's known as "The Charlotte Shoe Man."

Adam Brooks has a knack for finding high-quality vintage men's shoes, restoring them, and gifting them to men who need a pair.

Producer Russ Hunsinger shows us how this is more than a hobby for Adam.

It's a mission rooted in kindness and a hope that others will pay it forward, too.

(atmosphere whooshing) (pleasant horn music) - Hi, I am Adam Brooks, I'm "The Charlotte Shoe Man."

I love a good quality shoe.

The origins of this, for me, I got a promotion and spent a lot of money on a pair of shoes, more than I had before.

So, I was very disappointed, spent a lot of money and didn't have the result that I expected, so I started researching.

And guys, they really don't make them like they used to.

(pleasant horn music) So I started getting into vintage shoes.

(upbeat music) The thing I like most about it is it's taking a hobby, it's something of interest, and applying it to being in service, right?

So I'm able to serve other people, I'm able to meet other people.

We've got some amazing stories, I've met some amazing people over the years.

So I think that the people side of it is much more of a motivator.

'Cause after a while, you have too many shoes.

My wife would say I have way too many shoes.

- My name is Greylan Counts.

I'm a multidisciplinary artist.

I went through a season of trying to elevate my dress and attire, and one of my buddies found this pair of Towncrafts on Facebook Marketplace that were by a guy named Adam.

And I saw them, knew I could not afford them, and my buddy explained to me that Adam was giving them away for free.

What Adam's doing with the mission of "The Shoe Man of Charlotte" is this jumping off point of a very, very small act at the foundation of the human, right, the foot.

And the impact is incredible.

The simple aspect of getting these shoes and then needing attire that went with them put me into a position of looking like the kind of person who would dress like that, and being invited into higher rooms, better positions as an artist, higher paying gigs in ways that have provided for me and my family.

- I don't really like receiving cash.

Someone will try to, you know, pay me or whatever, and honestly I think it just muddles it.

It's not why I do it.

I'm happy to give the gift.

What I'd like to see is the gift resonate with someone and create a ripple effect where they're gonna create action and someone else is gonna create action and someone else is gonna create action.

So that's the challenge.

I ask everyone that receives a pair of shoes that in their own time and in their own way, so they may not be able to do it in that moment, that's fine.

A gift can be amplified by you paying it forward and doing something in your own way and in your own time, right?

So that's the challenge, right, it's not a requirement.

♪ Best day ever, best day ever - In addition to being a multidisciplinary artist, I'm also an arborist, and I had a client who needed some tree work taken care of, but did not really have the budget, and the estimated cost of that job... (cash register ringing) was roughly the same price as the shoes, so I volunteered.

- I like that it's been able to take something that's just a passion.

You know, I'm not a cobbler, I'm an IT guy.

I'm an enthusiast, okay, so it's something I have an interest in and I have a passion in, and it allows me an opportunity to take a passion and then put a purpose behind it and serve and give, you know, to other people.

I think the message I would get across to anyone is don't wait.

If anyone's waiting to get active in serving, don't feel like you need permission.

- Mid-grade shoe.

- Okay?

- So you don't have to have enough money, you have to have enough heart.

You don't have to have a business, you just have to have a passion.

You don't have to have permission, you just have to have a willingness.

I don't believe that there's any small way to serve.