Back in 2019, Arul Mehta ’21 discovered the work of Shoecyclist, a California-based nonprofit, and was inspired to bring their mission to Cleveland.
Shoecyclist is an organization led by a group of passionate high school students who collect new or gently used shoes from their local communities. These collected donations are then provided to homeless shelters, soup kitchens and other community-based organizations.
Arul is currently leading the Cleveland chapter as the Chief Development Officer. This role entails facilitating donation deliveries, leading outreach efforts to various donation sites, and creating and maintaining a team of volunteers.
“I really enjoy managing our volunteers across Northeast Ohio. It’s nice to have team members all throughout the area because we’re able to pick up and drop off the donations a lot quicker and easier.”
Arul is grateful for the opportunity to serve the Cleveland community as a part of the Shoecyclist team. “These simple acts of service help in my personal growth and inspiration. I definitely think that I have grown as a leader through my work with Shoecyclist, especailly with time management, organization and developing communication skills.”
The Saint Ignatius High School community is invited to volunteer with the Shoecyclist team or make a difference by donating a pair of new or gently-used men’s, women’s or kid’s shoes. Although they accept donations of all types of shoes, as the winter months are quickly approaching, the Shoecyclists are especially in need of winter boots.
To learn more or to make a donation, please contact Arul Mehta ’21 at amehta21@student.ignatius.edu.