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Varina High School's Life Planning seventh-block class has started a shoe drive to collect 100 pairs of new or gently-worn shoes to deliver to Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief to people in need worldwide.
Soles4Souls, founded in 2006, has distributed more than 30 million pairs of new and used shoes in 127 countries.
“Varina High School Life Planning seventh-block class is a strong supporter of Soles4Souls’ mission,” said teacher Michelle Landon. “To know that we can create meaningful impact around the globe by simply collecting and donating what is otherwise destined for the landfill is a really great feeling.”
The World Bank estimates that approximately 767 million people, 385 million of whom are children, live on less than $1.90 per day. Millions of those children don’t have access to adequate footwear resulting in significant ramifications for their health and well-being. Meanwhile, many adults don’t have access to sustainable employment.
Soles4Souls not only provides short-term relief by distributing brand new shoes and clothing donated by retailers and manufacturers but also creates economic impact and keeps unwanted textiles out of landfills. All of the Varina class's donated shoes will be distributed to the organization’s micro-enterprise programs that create jobs in Haiti, Honduras and other developing nations. The resulting revenue will help fund the free distribution of new shoes and clothing in the U.S., Canada and developing nations around the world.
“Millions of pairs of shoes lay idle in people’s closets,” said Landon. “Give those to Soles4Souls instead, and know that you are taking a step to help disrupt the cycle of poverty around the globe.”
To donate, bring new or used shoes of any kind to Varina High School, 7053 Messer Road, through May 25. For details, contact Landon at (804) 226-8700 or mllandon@henricostudents.k12.va.us.
