Soles 2 Souls is a 501(c)(3) organization that aims to provide quality shoes to marginalized communities in the greater Phoenix area. We, Alec Bansal and Jake Krotonsky, started Soles 2 Souls back in September of 2021. Growing up, we have both been very privileged to live with luxuries and essentials that we often take for granted. One of these very basic needs is shoes and socks. Last September, Jake and I saw a homeless individual in the Mayo and Scottsdale Rd intersection with very run-down shoes. This really touched us because we are very passionate about shoes and know how important it is to have a nice, functioning pair of sneakers. Whether it be reading about them, collecting them, or reselling them, we have always loved shoes. After this encounter, we began to notice more and more that many people lack a solid pair of shoes to get them through their day’s work. With this in mind, we decided to start our non-profit to provide these essentials to individuals in our community who are in need. Having come up with the name “Soles 2 Souls,” we decided to start by approaching individuals on the street and offering them shoes and a genuine conversation. This proved to be more difficult than we expected, so we have started working with other non-profit organizations to assist those living on the margins. Today, we continue on this mission as we bring "Souls 2 Soles" to fruition.
