Gunn High School senior Alexandra Yesian will soon reach her goal of donating 1,000 pairs of shoes to the Ecumenical Hunger Program, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income families in Palo Alto, East Palo Alto and Menlo Park with food, clothing and support.
Yesian started her "Got Extra Shoes?" program last summer with the ambitious goal of donating 1,000 pairs of shoes to the program.
It wasn't easy but it was all worth the stress, Alexandra, 17, said as she closed in on her goal, with just 62 pairs to go.
She said she chose shoes because she loves shoes and felt that everyone needs a good-fitting pair. She put ads in the school paper and in Fogster. Each day after school, she swam through three hours of synchronized swim practice and an inbox full of messages from people wanting to donate.
"It was very important for me to get kids shoes because children's feet are constantly growing, but I accepted anything in good condition," said Alexandra.
Then came the shoes.
Shoes came in from all over the community, and many pairs had stories. A dying neighbor left his shoes to Alexandra so she could give them to those in need. A group of triathlon runners picked up unclaimed shoes after a race. They even donated goggles and swim caps to her swim team.
What started as a solo effort soon turned into a family affair. Until Alexandra got her driver's license, her mother, Charlotte, pitched in by transporting carloads of shoes to the hunger program. Her father and brother put up fliers at their offices.
When Melanie Jones-Carter, administrative manager at the program, first met Alexandra in May, she had already collected 688 pairs.
"It was quite refreshing to meet someone that had figured out how their passion could help others," she said.
Alexandra hopes to reach her goal by early November.
The project has helped raise the profile the Ecumenical Hunger Program, believed to be the Peninsula's largest supplier of emergency relief. The program accepts food, clothing and household essentials year round and is located at 2411 Pulgas Ave., East Palo Alto. More information is at www.ehpcares.org.