Alexis Menias

Raise your hand if you have built an orphanage in Zambia. Anyone? Well, this Campus Celebrity has! Alexis Menias is a globe-trotting travelista with a cause. She loves travelling and lending a helping hand to the needy. The Naperville native has been to Peru, Zambia, South Africa , Egypt, The Bahamas and Mexico (to name a few).

One of her most influential trips took place this past summer when she won the TOMS Shoes Ticket to Give Contest, where she travelled to Peru and hand-placed shoes on underprivileged children’s feet. Menias found out about the contest through a friend, and describes it as an eye-opening experience. She considers it amazing that shoes can have such a profound effect on people’s lives.  Seeing the children’s joy and appreciation for the shoes was her favorite part of the trip.

“[The children] would tell us that they loved us, and all we did was put shoes on their feet.” the Sociology major said with a smile on her face.

Menias says that the trip has exhanced her knowledge and respect for TOMS Shoes and their mission. She considers it a responsibility to encourage other students to support TOMS shoes and enter the contest.  She wants to spread awareness about the shoe company’s  life-changing philanthropy.

Alexis Menias is well on her way toward making a difference…one passport stamp at a time. Visit the TOMS website to find out more information about their awesome shoes!

Name: Alexis Menias

Year: Senior

Major: Sociology with a minor in Biology

Hometown: Naperville, Illinois

Hobbies/Interests: Travelling, spending time with family, Sorority (Lamda Zeta Chi)

How did you find out about the TOMS shoes Ticket to Give contest?

My friend was on their website browsing for shoes, and she saw [information about] it. She texted me saying ‘It’s either you sign or I’m going to enter for you!’ She knows that I love [community] outreach.

Why did you enter the contest?

I am one of those people that cannot just sit around and see people struggling. If I see people struggling, I have to help them. I had been to Zambia and Africa, and I decided that Peru would also be an amazing experience.

How did it feel to win the trip to Peru?

I was freaking out! They sent me an e-mail. I read the e-mail to my parents and my sisters. I was just so excited.

You described Peru as one of  the most influential experiences of your life. Why?

I live a comfortable lifestyle where everything is about instant gratification. Going there, you see people that do not have much of anything. They live in tin houses with dirt floors…and they are happy. You leave your comfort zone and you realize that there are other people out there. We worked with this company called Coper Deli, and their goal was to re-build poor and impoverished communities. It was just all so eye-opening. It’s just amazing that they dedicate their lives to giving.

You got to hand place shoes on children’s feet in underprivileged areas. What stuck with you most about the kids?

The children were so cute. They speak Spanish, and I speak really horrible Spanish. Some of the kids had holes in their socks and they were very embarrassed by it. Some of them wanted to put their own shoes on in the corner! There was this girl that didn’t speak at all. Once she got the shoes, she started dancing!

Wow, how did you feel when she started dancing?

It was so cute. I was so happy. She explained that this was her first pair of her own shoes. She had to share with her siblings. A lot of the schools in Peru have shoe requirements, and she only goes to school Mondays and Thursdays because she has to share her shoes. She now gets to go to school in her own pair of shoes.

Has your perception of TOM’s shoes changed after this experience? How?

Absolutely. I have heard a lot of critics. During the trip, I learned so much about TOMS  and their working partners. Actually going out there and putting shoes  on children’s feet helped me to realize that if I buy TOMS shoes, it actually goes somewhere. It’s not just a myth. I’m in love with [TOMS Shoes] now.

Would you encourage other UIC students to enter the contest?

Definitely. It was definitely worth it. TOMS Shoes  providing  this opportunity was a means of me getting to do what I wanted to do.  It’s definitely worth it. I would do it again if I could.