July 9, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

New Suede Shoes

By Jennifer Eden

A group of excited children will be striding to start the school year in style following a kindness initiative that saw young kids at risk don squeaky new sneakers at Santa Monica’s Police Activities League (PAL) center Wednesday, Aug. 16.

The new shoes were made possible by non-profit Hav A Sole, founded by Rikki Mendias, who pays his good fortune forward, after receiving sneakers as a young kid when he had none.

Mendias attended PAL when he was a boy and began collecting sneakers as a teenager. One day he realized that he had a large shoe collection that was doing nothing but gathering dust, so decided to start sharing his wealth by giving it away to those in need.

Wednesday’s event was made possible by partners the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals Committee. Hav A Sole accepts both new and gently used shoes from individuals. For more information head to: havasole.com.

Shoes
Photos: Morgan Genser.
Kid trying on shoes
Joshua Lesley trying on his new shoes.
Kid trying on shoes
Eliduwan Woods is all smiles as he tries on new shoes.
Kid trying on shoes
Chris Naealgas puts on his new Nikes.
police activities league and shoes
Excited kids and volunteers picking out shoes with the name of the recipient on them.
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