August 15th is National Shoe Donation Day.
Working in running specialty for several years, one of my many tasks was to collect all the donated and old shoes customers would drop off in the donation bin. I’m not kidding when I say people would daily bring over several garbage bags full of shoes to donate. And it was not uncommon for the bin to be overflowing with shoes at day’s end.
So why the hype about donating shoes?
Donating your shoes has 3 great benefits:
- keeps shoes out of landfills
- provides footwear to those in need
- provides materials that can be repurposed
There are some organizations you can donate your shoes to. The one I am most familiar with is Soles4Souls. This incredible organization turns “unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use – providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty,” per their site, soles4souls.org.
So, if you have old or gently used shoes, don’t chuck them in the waste bin. Instead, head over to your local running store and place them in the donation bin. Even if your shoes aren’t completely worn out, you can still donate them, and know that you’re making a difference.
~LMC