It’s impossible to walk a block in New York City without coming across someone in desperate need. Many of us block them from our minds and go throughout the day without any lingering guilt about what we should do to help these people. One amazing man decided to make a difference with a simple and incredible act of kindness.
During the day, Andre McDonnell works as a retail employee at trendy SoHo store Atrium. He sells clothing and accessories to paying customers looking for the most stylish options. At night, he gives away donated shoes to those who would never dream of owning a new pair.
Andre was compelled to create the charitable movement, called It’s From the Soul.
He treks every day from SoHo to Grand Central and Union Square to distribute the donated athletic shoes.
His inspiration came after playing a game of basketball with friends a few years ago.
His inspiration came after playing a game of basketball with friends a few years ago.
Andre saw a nearby homeless man without any shoes and was moved to give his own shoes to him.
“As I walked away, I felt the gravel under my own feet, and it just hit me there has to be something more that I can do,” Andre explains.
Now he receives tons of donations from equally charitable New Yorkers.
He even takes the time to wash each and every pair himself, spending around $50-60 a week at the laundromat.
His only aim is to make those in need walk a little easier through their already rough lives.