Michigan Teens Create Solecycle To Help Health Equity With Shoe Donations

A group of Michigan students turned their cluttered closets into a mission. They've put 3,000 pairs of shoes on feet that needed them, both in their state and across borders in Guatemala.

Plymouth High School senior Angad Chauhan spotted a chance to make a difference when he saw unused shoes at home. "In the beginning, my friends and I just noticed the overflowing piles of shoes we all had at home," Chauhan said, according to Hometown Life.

Working with Open Door Ministry, they set up a system to give shoes at no cost to families who come for food aid. Each week, the ministry assists about 450 families through their food program.

"The people who come here are struggling financially," said Open Door Ministry Associate Director Dave Yeager. "If they can get shoes for their kids, that's one less expense to worry about."

The project grew when Chauhan joined forces with three other students - Armaan Grewal from Plymouth High and Salem High seniors Ayush Patel and Rudra Patel. They placed bins across Plymouth-Canton schools where people could drop off gently worn shoes.

Their work crossed borders when they linked up with Connection Church. Together, they sent around 1,000 pairs of shoes to kids in Guatemala who needed them most.

"These are communities on the lower socioeconomic scale," Chauhan said. "For them, something as simple as a pair of shoes can make a huge difference, not only for mobility but also for health. In places like Guatemala, going without shoes can expose people to diseases that we don't often think about here."

Want to pitch in? Take your shoes to Open Door Ministry at 4301 S. Lilley Road in Canton Township. Drop off times are Wednesdays, when staff prep for Thursday's food handouts.

Check solecycle.org and opendoorfoodministry.org to learn more about how you can help.