A local Downtown LA shoe store closed its doors for good after the owners of the building decided not to renew their lease. The shop owners had planned to reopen its doors but were unable to secure a new location. After hearing about their inventory sitting new and unsold we approached them about a possible donation to us, to which they agreed!
In total, we were able to distribute over 100 pairs of brand new shoes to individuals at local shelters in Skid Row, Los Angeles and also directly on the streets.
After (socks, bags and food), shoes are some of the most sought after donations, since homeless individuals spend the majority of their day on their feet or walking miles to get rest or resources.
Silver Lake Love founder and executive director, Chi “Fuzzy” Ip commented:
“Of course it’s always easier to do whats easy, but it’s not always what’s right. Everyday, we are presented with the choice, of doing what’s right or doing what’s easy? Doing the right thing is usually more work, but in the end it carries a deeper meaning than simply doing the right thing. Doing the right thing
means walking the extra 50 yards to put the plastic bottle in the recycle bin. It means being kind to a child or stranger when it is easier to be angry or to inflict pain. Silver Lake Love believes one part of doing the right thing is the unwavering belief that our impact on another human being, through love, compassion and empathy pays us and the community back in a way that is so profound that it cannot be quantified.”
