About Spare a pear
Spare A Pear was founded by Dimitri Potamousis, a high school student from Westfield, New Jersey. Below is the story of how his mission came to fruition.
I was inspired to start this fundraising platform while working on a school project and for a week, I pledged to create limited to zero waste. Most of the food available in school was packaged, so my meal and snack options were limited.
I was famished every day because I was used to eating a big lunch and tons of snacks. By 2pm, my stomach rumbles became a joke in the classroom. My head felt like construction workers lived inside and my energy was zapped. Forget about focus for tests. It was gone.
One night in the midst of the project, I saw a news piece about the importance of in-school and after-school meal programs. It hadn’t occurred to me that for many kids, missing school meant missing meals.
When the most under served are home sick and off for school breaks, these kids have no access to a decent meal. My short term school project gave me a glimpse into the anguish of those living with hunger and food insecurity. It was a tough thing to wrap my head around. Until then, the privilege of eating was one I took for granted. I was upset.
But I motivated to do something.
I began in my mom’s closet. She had worked in fashion and owned a few pairs of barely worn luxury brand shoes she wasn't planning to wear again. I asked if I could sell them online as a way to raise money for a charity so I could give back.
After I received my first $500 check, Spare A Pear was born. When my mom watched me donate to No Kid Hungry with the shoe funds, she said the most beautiful thing. “Selling my soles feeds my soul!”
I now pick up shoes from her friends, our neighbors and their communities in order to continue the work.
If you want to spare a pair for Spare A Pear, please get in touch!
I was famished every day because I was used to eating a big lunch and tons of snacks. By 2pm, my stomach rumbles became a joke in the classroom. My head felt like construction workers lived inside and my energy was zapped. Forget about focus for tests. It was gone.
One night in the midst of the project, I saw a news piece about the importance of in-school and after-school meal programs. It hadn’t occurred to me that for many kids, missing school meant missing meals.
When the most under served are home sick and off for school breaks, these kids have no access to a decent meal. My short term school project gave me a glimpse into the anguish of those living with hunger and food insecurity. It was a tough thing to wrap my head around. Until then, the privilege of eating was one I took for granted. I was upset.
But I motivated to do something.
I began in my mom’s closet. She had worked in fashion and owned a few pairs of barely worn luxury brand shoes she wasn't planning to wear again. I asked if I could sell them online as a way to raise money for a charity so I could give back.
After I received my first $500 check, Spare A Pear was born. When my mom watched me donate to No Kid Hungry with the shoe funds, she said the most beautiful thing. “Selling my soles feeds my soul!”
I now pick up shoes from her friends, our neighbors and their communities in order to continue the work.
If you want to spare a pair for Spare A Pear, please get in touch!