NW Indiana: DON’T THROW OUT THOSE GENTLY WORN SHOES! Kiwanis Club of Portage is launching a Shoe Drive Campaign on Tuesday, September 15th to raise funds for Riley Children’s Hospital and to support the Kiwanis mission.
Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one community and one child at a time.
“This shoe drive is a program I learned about this summer at the Kiwanis International Convention in Indianapolis”, states Cathy Reed, club Treasurer. “It’s a really neat program because it not only offers an opportunity for nonprofit organizations to earn money but the larger picture is that the shoes are sent overseas to developing countries and used to create and sustain micro-business enterprises where impoverished families repurpose and sell the shoes to sustain their families and their own local economy. We’re helping to lift families out of poverty. It’s a win-win for everyone!”
The Portage Kiwanis Club is asking the community for its help with the shoe drive by volunteering to take one or more bags and collect gently worn shoes from their families, friends and co-workers. 25 pairs of shoes will fit in each bag. When the bags are filled, a Portage Kiwanian will pick them up. It’s that easy!
Individual pairs of shoes can also be dropped off at Members Advantage Credit Union (6170 US Highway 6, Portage), the Portage Township YMCA (3100 Willowcreek Road), or Dream Big Gymnastics (6575 Daniel Burnham Drive Suite E).
“We’d like this to be a signature project for our club”, states Reed, “one that the community can expect from us each year. Instead of throwing unwanted shoes in the trash, plan on saving your unwanted shoes for our annual shoe drive and be a part of helping others around the world”.
For more information call 219-510-2702.