SHPC hosts Sole Making

Stevens Health Professionals Club (SHPC), Alpha Phi Omega (APO), and Sustainability, Activism, Volunteering, and Engineering (SAVE) hosted Shoe Making for the Soles to create shoes to provide aid for individuals facing foot-related diseases in Uganda.

The organizations worked with Sole Hope, an organization that provides aid for foot-related diseases in Uganda. Specifically, the organization provides relief for jiggers, a parasite that infects the feet and hands of children and the elderly, creating wounds that make individuals susceptible to disease. At the event, participants could create shoes out of donated jeans, their own old jeans, or used jeans donated by Hoboken residents.

Penelope Halkiadakis, Vice President of SHPC and former Service Vice President of APO, stated she wanted SHPC, a club that is starting to provide volunteer opportunities for pre-med students on campus, to work on public health initiatives and collaborate with other likeminded organizations. “As the Service Vice President of APO, I had done work with Sole Hope and thought this would be a great opportunity to align clubs for a common goal,” said Halkiadakis. She also noted that the clubs had raised over $625 from a candy-gram and Chipotle fundraiser for Sole Hope.

In previous semesters, this event was run by APO. However, they were never able to collect enough materials and never had the corresponding plastic heels to finish the shoe. “This kind of disregard for the shoe party system was a national problem,” explained Halkiadakis, “and actually forced Sole Hope to close shoe parties for almost a year because of inadequate funding.”

Halkiadakis emphasized the importance of upcycling for the event. The event used recycled clothes, which helps keeps textile waste out of landfills and instead brings them to communities in need. She also noted that there are a lot of ways to give back to your community: “There are a ton of creative ways to give back to your community, at a campus, community, national, and international level in sustainable ways. Look for ways to partner with other organizations — everyone can make a difference, and together your action will have a larger impact.”

Those interested in learning more about Sole Hope can find out more information on their website. Students interested in Stevens Health Professionals Club can contact Penelope Halkiadakis.