How RPM Collected 4,362 Pairs for Soles4Souls – Tips from Our Top Contributors

This year, RPM teams showed up in a major way – donating an incredible 4,362 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls, an organization that turns unwanted shoes into providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty. Two standout contributors helped push that number even higher:

Melissa Rosado, Remote Payroll Account Manager (Florida): 486 pairs
La Sierra Apartments (San Antonio): 704 pairs

Both took completely different approaches, but each proved that a little creativity – and a lot of heart – goes a long way. Here’s how they did it, and how you can bring their strategies into your next drive.

La Sierra Apartments: How a Community Came Together

La Sierra focused on meeting residents where they already were. Their top strategies included:

• Encouraging move-out donations: Residents who were relocating were invited to drop off any new or gently used shoes they no longer needed – turning a stressful transition into an easy moment to give back.
• Highlighting the drive at resident events: The team promoted the shoe drive during multiple community gatherings, making participation effortless and visible.
• Sending reminders and follow-ups: Simple nudges kept the drive top-of-mind and boosted resident turnout.

Result: 704 pairs collected and an entire community energized around giving.

Melissa Rosado: Getting Creative with Your Network

Melissa’s approach was all about expanding the circle. Here’s what worked:

• Shared the drive in her kickball league’s WhatsApp chats: Quick messages = fast momentum.
• Posted in multiple local Facebook groups: Broad reach, zero cost, and highly effective.
• Enlisted help from the owner of the kickball league: He emailed all participants on her behalf, creating immediate community buy-in.
• Welcomed support from unexpected places: Even a local Zumba class joined in once they heard about the cause!
• Stayed grounded in the mission: Melissa loved knowing her donations would support families in countries like Haiti and Honduras – providing consistent, quality food, housing, and education for five months.

Result: 486 pairs collected by one person – powered by purpose, connection, and a little hustle.

Both Melissa and La Sierra proved there’s no one way to make a big impact. Whether you tap into your community, your social circles, or everyday touchpoints with residents, small efforts add up fast. Because when we rally together, extraordinary things happen.

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