Too many times, sneaker culture gets a bad rep for all the violence that surrounds it. While it appears these unfortunate events have been happening more and more as of late, there are still a bunch of good people who use sneakers as a platform to do good for society.
Andre McDonnell, founder of the non-profit organization It's From the Sole, is doing exactly that.
The NYC resident goes around his city, from SoHo to Grand Central Terminal, to give away sneakers to homeless people. McDonnell, who is the head sales associate at menswear retail store Atrium, got the idea for It's From the Sole after giving away his sneakers to a homeless man after playing basketball.
"I saw a homeless guy with no shoes on, so I left the ballgame, took off my shoes and offered him my sneakers and he took them with a smile," McDonnell told the New York Post. "As I walked away, I felt the gravel under my own feet, and it just hit me there has to be something more that I can do."
McDonnell walks the streets after his shift is over with a large bag filled with clothes and sneakers. All the items are cleaned at a laundromat before being handed out, which is an out-of-pocket expense that costs McDonnell up to $60/week. But to see the reaction of the less fortunate people that get blessed with sneakers, makes it worth all the time and money for McDonnell.
"The best feeling is to see a homeless person in the shoes I gave them," McDonnell said. "I know that they appreciate it, and it just may make their walk in life just a bit easier."
McDonnell's efforts have been recognized, gaining support from The North Face, Atrium, and even celebrities like Carmelo Anthony. To find out how you can get involved, visit It's From the Sole or contact McDonnell at andre@itsfromthesole.org.
1.
2.
3.
[via Elite Daily and New York Post]
