Youth council shoe drive raises funds for DJ’s Alliance

The youth council at DJ’s Alliance recently celebrated a successful shoe drive fundraiser, netting $1,144.

The nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting suicide loss survivors in Delaware.

While the shoe drive was the council’s first fundraising activity, youth council Co-Chair Alexa Cruz-Hackett said it won’t be the last, as the community of suicide loss survivors in Delaware continues to grow within the DJ’s Alliance organization.

“The shoe drive was definitely very hard and time-consuming, but in the end, it was worth it. This was one way to spread the importance of mental health awareness, and I want to continue sharing that with kids my age, as well as support fellow suicide loss survivors,” Cruz-Hackett said.

Shoes that were collected through the drive were donated to Funds2Orgs, which redistributes them to a network of micro-enterprise partners and families across the world. Funds2Orgs then wrote a check to DJ’s Alliance. Monies will be used to offset the cost of resources and programs for survivors, as well as community outreach opportunities. The youth council will also be able to use the funds for programming opportunities and resources geared toward younger suicide loss survivors.

“Words cannot express how proud I am of Alexa seeing how hard she worked, putting countless hours in, to achieve a successful shoe drive. I’m so happy to see her accomplish this,” said Heather Cruz-Hackett, DJ’s Alliance vice chair, of her daughter.

Members of the youth council also recently advocated for the establishment of the Office of Suicide Prevention through House Bill 54, DJ’s Act, which was championed by Sen. Spiros Mantzavinos, D-Elsmere, and Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Newark, and signed into law by Gov. Matt Meyer in August.