Two years ago, self-described “sneakerhead” Noah Patton decided to take his passion and turn it toward his community. Patton found himself discussing with his family how he could use his love of shoes for good, so he decided to team up with close friend Andrew De Los Santos to start a new nonprofit. The flyers they spread around Fair Oaks Ranch proclaimed the name that symbolized both their passion and their purpose: Good For The Sole.
Good For The Sole works to collect, repurpose, and give away kicks to those who need them, Patton said. The staff includes Patton, a senior at Champion High School, De Los Santos, and a few of their close friends like Tre Hudspeth, and Reagan Burkey. Here’s how it works: Patton places sneaker donation bins around the Boerne area. In fact, Good For The Sole already has bins at five out of seven Boerne elementary schools, and Patton has plans to establish bins at the remaining two. Once a bin is filled with shoes, he picks them up and he and his team will count them, clean them, box them, and finally, wrap them. Then comes Patton’s favorite part: the distribution. So far, Good For The Sole has distributed two batches of sneakers to the local community: the first being a delivery of 37 pairs to children partnered with Inner City Development, and the second providing 104 pairs to Haven for Hope.
While there is variety, Patton said their main clientele is elementary-aged children. On their first-ever shoe delivery to Inner City Development, Patton recalled an interaction with a girl receiving her pair of sneakers. Patton said that he and his team had arrived at Inner City Development ready to greet children and distribute their sneakers, but had to wait a while for their first recipient to arrive. A little girl arrived wearing torn slides, and Patton remembered the joy the girl expressed upon finding a perfect fit. “She was like, ‘Oh my gosh they’re so pretty!’” Patton recalls.
Not only has the nonprofit experienced rapid growth, but Patton has plans to continue Good For The Sole post-graduation. Over the course of its existence, Good For The Sole has acquired a website and a social media presence. And as long as the shoes keep coming in, Patton hopes more and more kids across Boerne and the San Antonio area will get the chance to shine in their new sneakers.
Declutter and Give Back This Holiday Season
Good For The Sole
Got some old soles that still have some soul? Good For The Sole will take your old shoes and give them new life and then and give them to someone who can put them to work. Check out their website and Instagram for more details on how and where to donate those shoes that still have some step.
gftsole.com | @goodforthesole24
Fabulous Finds Thrift Shop
Whether it’s clothing, furniture, or household items, Fabulous Finds might be a great destination to donate your items — even the bigger ones. All items are donated by those in the Boerne and Kendall County community, and all proceeds benefit Kendall County Women’s Shelter.
kcwstexas.org/fabulousfinds | @fabulousfindsthriftstores
Hill Country Family Services Thrift Store
Accepting donations of both household goods and gently used clothing, Hill Country Family Services turns its proceeds towards helping families get the food they need. The thrift store’s proceeds go towards Hill Country Family Services, which also operates the thrift, in assisting local families in crisis.
hcfstx.org/hcfs-thrift-shop | @randomhangers