Making a Difference with a Good Pair of Shoes

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Nicholas Song. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

For many, playing sports brings some of their fondest memories from childhood: the close-knit friendships with teammates, the thrill of winning a game, the satisfaction of personal accomplishment. That’s certainly been the case for Nicholas Song, a 17-year-old who is on his school’s water polo, swim and volleyball teams. It’s an experience he wants everyone to be able to have and the driving force behind The Sole Project, a 501(c)3 he founded in 2022. Partnering with various gyms, Nicholas collects high-quality athletic shoes to give to young athletes who might otherwise be unable to afford them.

In under three years, his organization has donated more than $50,000 worth of gently-worn shoes to communities across Orange County. He has helped more than 900 young athletes get in the game, whatever that game may be. And his penchant for supporting young people doesn’t end there. His dedication to the Link Crew leadership program helps incoming freshmen acclimate to high school, and his enthusiasm for science inspires local elementary school students where he performs engaging experiments with the Science for Kids Club.

Was this your first volunteering initiative?

I started the summer after eighth grade. My first volunteering opportunity was at an elementary summer camp, chaperoning the kids and teaching them about certain subjects. I’ve done that for three years. I’ve also volunteered at our local library for three years. I’ve organized and shelved books and helped staff organize events for kids. I’ve also been involved at a food pantry. I help sort, package and distribute food to families that need it. I really like paying it forward in my community, so I try to focus my volunteer efforts in my area.

Tell us about your volunteer role with The Sole Project.

My role as president is to oversee operations. I coordinate with our partner organizations like 24-Hour Fitness and Orange Theory Fitness and make sure there are no problems with the shoe donations. Essentially, we have a poster board with our mission and our contact information along with a bin that we place at the front of each location. Anybody can donate. Our website has a Google form for people who wants to donate shoes that way as well.

I work with nonprofits like the Thomas House Shelter to set up events to distribute those shoes throughout the community. My whole team—formerly 10, now six people—cleans the shoes together when we get them. We take the bins of shoes and give them a soak and disinfect. When they dry, we look for pairs that need extra conditioning. The goal is to make them as new-looking as possible. If they’re not up to a certain standard, we don’t donate them. We’ll hold on to the rest for distribution events.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I’ve been an athlete my whole life. I started out playing baseball, soccer and basketball. To play baseball, for example, you need cleats. You can’t run the bases in tennis shoes. When I went to tournaments, sometimes I’d see kids who didn’t have all the equipment that I did. They didn’t have bats or helmets. They didn’t have the proper shoes, or they were really worn. So, when I got to high school, I started thinking about how I could help, because through sports, I’ve made lifelong friends and memories I’ll never forget.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

One of my goals is to expand outside of Orange County, to reach L.A. It’s hard to do that now, because my team and I are in school. We have a limited range that we can go to every day. We all drive now, but it was hard early on, because our parents had to take us to a lot of these places.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

It’s always great when a kid finds a pair of shoes they like, especially when they fit perfectly. Their excitement is something I always look forward to.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

I’ve learned how to communicate efficiently and work well with my team by listening to their ideas and promoting an environment where everyone feels like they can contribute. I also learned that there are many more kids in need of equipment and shoes than I originally thought.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

We have an event scheduled for late July with The Higher Ground of Santa Ana. Most of our team has volunteered there before, so we know the kids, the area and what they’re all about. We’re really excited to have the opportunity to have a donation event there.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

We should be grateful to the communities we grew up in and get involved so that others feel the same kind of support that we did. Community plays a big role in who you become in the future.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Don’t be afraid to reach out to organizations; they want to help the community just as much as the next person. Take the initiative. If you want to get involved, find what you want to do and contact organizations who align with that interest. A lot of people would be surprised by how helpful everyone is in playing a part in shaping the community.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I want people to learn how valuable their upbringing is and how important their communities are in shaping their lives. And I don’t want people to be afraid to take that next step to start getting involved, however big or small it is.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Nicholas? Find local volunteer opportunities.