Unwanted footwear? Wichita non-profit aims to collect 2,500 pairs of shoes
It’s time to take a look in your closet. Folks at a Wichita non-profit are looking to get their hands on shoes you may no longer want.
Helping Our People Economically, or H.O.P.E, is collecting gently worn shoes through Oct. 22. The shoes will help raise funds for the non-profit and help micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries.
The organization’s focus is to “establish socially useful projects in Wichita and surrounding communities , including drug rehabilitation, AIDS education and prevention, affordable housing and human services,” according to a news release.
The organization’s director Jean Carter says the shoe drive will help in two ways.
“The shoes will go to underdeveloped countries where those individuals mostly walk barefoot. … Our goal is to collect at least 2,500 or more pairs of shoes,” Carter said.
“Realistically, we would like to get 350 to 400 per week,” Carter added.
The organization gets 40 cents per pound from the shoes collected. Carter says that money goes directly to running the non-profit.
“That helps pay our light bill, ink, paper and other supplies … and right now we need to have some computers and printers, so we’re trying to raise money so we can carry on our programs,” Carter said.
H.O.P.E is listed with 211, a service provided by United Way that helps people get resources such as food and housing. “Our services at no cost are open to the public, and so 211 refers everybody to us,” Carter said.
The shoe drive aims to collect 100 bags containing 25 pairs of shoes each by Oct. 22. Carter says they have 18 bags so far.
“If we don’t get 100 bags or more we’re going to have to pay… If we only get 60 or 70 bags we don’t get anything because they charge us $245 and they still take the shoes. It hasn’t happened to us before and we’re not trying to do that,” Carter said.
The organization picking up the shoes and shipping them to other countries is Funds2Orgs. The shoes then get sold to micro-entrepreneurs at a fraction of the cost.
“This helps ensure commerce and not destroy their commercial economy by dumping free items. Many countries and local governments have laws and regulations against free merchandise and donations in order to protect their economies,” according to the release.
Countries that the shoes will go to include Haiti, Honduras, Cambodia and Ghana.
The organization collected almost 4,000 pairs during its first shoe drive in 2014, Carter said.
Drop-off locations in Wichita include Headcase Salon, 1518 W. Douglas Ave., and Midtown Barber Shop, 256 N. Topeka. Shoes can also be dropped off at H.O.P.E. headquarters, 2137 N. Battin.
On Oct. 3 from 4 to 8 p.m., Pizza Ranch at 2121 N. Tyler Road will donate 10 percent of its sales and tips to H.O.P.E., Carter said.