Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
A Shoe In
()
In my quest to bring a charity component to all social gatherings, first described here, I was faced with finding just the right fit for a recent house party. It was a celebration of new jobs, a birthday and we were expecting about 75 people. I wanted to make it fun and easy for people and did a little research and decided to do a shoe drive. In the evite with all the other information we included a paragraph on our idea:
So join us, and please bring a pair of new, newish or old sneakers with you. Help us keep one of our New Year's Resolutions that all social gatherings be GOOD! Shoes are going to be donated to One World Running and we will take care of shipping. New and "near-new," will be sent to Kenya for people without shoes and the beat up ones will be sent to Nike in Beaverton, Ore., through Boulder's Eco-Cycle program, to be ground up and made into running tracks and playgrounds through the Reuse-a-Shoe program.
One World Running does shoe drops around the world once a month. This month their drop is in Nicaragua, next month Kenya (where I asked my shipment to go), the following Vietnam, then New Orleans. As for those old and dirty shoes you would probably just throw out? Here in LA, it's so easy, I could just drop them off at Niketown - or for those elsewhere you can send them to Nike's Reuse a Shoe Program in Oregon - either way, it doesn't matter where the shoe is from, they'll take them all and what a great way to find an alternative use for your shoes outside a landfill.
Support for LAist comes from
Another cool idea? Buy a pair of Tom's shoes. For every pair of shoes that is bought, another pair is donated to a village in Argentina. I bought my first pair last April when the website just launched and it has been one of my favorites gifts to give all year! The founder, Blake Mycoskie (a Texan turned Venice guy) has this YouTube of his amazing experience during a massive shoedrop:
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. -
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
Best of LAist