Yearly Report

It’s been a busy start to the year. We expanded our student led shoe drives to include Lick-Wilmerding High School and have been actively building out student teams at different Bay Area schools. We were also featured on a podcast! So far we have collected 163 pairs of shoes, served 44 families and children with new shoes, and displaced 4,890 pounds of CO2 emissions.

Our first full year in operation. We had so many learnings, including how most of our peers didn’t understand the impacts of shoe waste on the environment. But once they were educated, they wanted to help. With the support of San Francisco Day School, ReLace hosted its first school shoe drive, which was a big success and paved the future model of how ReLace can collect shoes at a larger scale.

We also saw that a large number of shoes being donated were brand new - and sometimes still in the original box! We were introduced to Compass Family Services, the oldest San Francisco community service organization helping families facing homelessness for over 100 years. Through Compass, ReLace donated shoes directly to families and kids in need. ReLace understands that its mission isn't only to protect the environment, but to also help its community.

ReLace also expanded its drop off site locations to include gyms! Thank you CrossFit Alinea and DIAKADI! In 2024, collected 832 pairs of shoes, served 158 families and children with new shoes and displaced 24,960 pounds of CO2 emissions.

ReLace officially launched as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit after two San Francisco middle school twin brothers were inspired to reduce shoe waste and help protect the environment. California Tennis Club partnered with ReLace to be the first shoe drop off site. In 2023, we collected 256 pairs of shoes and displaced 7,680 pounds of CO2 emissions.