http://currentincarmel.com/soles-for-souls-carmel-high-school-senior-earns-top-honors-for-collecting-donating-shoes

Kamna Gupta’s mission began during a 2013 visit to her parents’ native country of India.

Near the Taj Mahal, Gupta noticed a man seeking money who had made a pair of shoes out of empty plastic water bottles and hay.

“He had cuts and bruises on his feet and couldn’t walk well or stand well,” Gupta said. “So I felt like I needed to do something, I took whatever money I had and went to nearest vendor and bought a pair of flip-flops for him, and with the money left I bought him a meal. He rejoiced and was extremely happy, which made me happy as well. I realized I couldn’t buy flip-flops and a meal for every single person I see on the street. That doesn’t provide a long-term solution, only a short-term solution.”

Gupta recently received the Indiana top high school youth volunteer for the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, earning a $1,000 scholarship and an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. April 30 to May 4. Ten of the state honorees (five middle school and five high school) will be named America’s top youth volunteers of 2016. They will receive $5,000 awards, gold medallions and a $5,000 grant to the nonprofit of their choice.