frequently asked questions

Once when we threw our shoes away, we wondered about the impact of shoes waste. After realizing the significant impact it has on our planet and community, we realized that this would help everyone, way for us to give back to our community, and show people that their small decisions make an impact.

We only accept any athletic shoes! We will take used or not worn shoes, and kids or adult sizes.

However, we do not accept any non-athletic footwear, including dress shoes, sandals, rain boots, UGGs, or crocs.

After collecting the shoes, ReLace or its volunteers will sort through the shoes. If the shoe is reusable, we donate them to Compass SF where families will be able to reuse them. If the shoes are unable to reworn, we will send them to a facility where the material will be reused or recycled.

Recycling shoes are very difficult because a shoe is made up of a lot of different materials. Some of them are foam, plastic, artificial leather, rubber, and textiles. All these parts are held by a powerful glue, contaminating the other recyclable materials.

There is no "perfect" leader. The general things we are looking for are people who are committed, caring, and are able to self direction.

We believe that this program is the best because you are able to see the impact you make, learn life skills (ex. managing and time management), and is hands on.