Shoe drive continues through next week
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, May 25, 2016
For anyone still looking to do some spring cleaning, there’s still one more week to donate those old shoes to a good cause.
Kay Grantham, the secretary and treasurer of the Magnolia chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana said the group’s shoe drive is extending into next week before wrapping up. The shoe drive will raise money for the new animal shelters.
If the chapter can collect 2,500 pairs of shoes, the group will get $1,000 from Funds2Orgs. That group helps nonprofits in the United States by buying up items like shoes and then providing those items to entrepreneurs in developing countries, who sell the clothing through small businesses. At present, Grantham said she’s got roughly three quarters of what the group needs, so she’s hoping this next week will push her over he top.
People can drop off the donated shoes at several locations, including at the offices of The Daily News at 525 Ave. V. Since the drive began, Grantham said she’s seen a good response.
“We’ve had a really good turnout,” she said. “As word spreads, I’ve been getting shoes from everywhere.
“Mt. Hermon Miss America Club, they had a shoe drive about a month ago, and that gave us a jump start. I think they had 600 pairs.”
Things have gone so well for her, Grantham said her garage can now fit only a car, a foster cat and piles and piles of donated shoes.
“It’s pretty full of shoes,” she said.
Grantham noted that the shoe drive will be used to finance the new animal shelter, currently under construction off Highway 10 on Yacc Road.
“People ask all the time what are we doing with the shoes,” she said. “Someone asked me the other day if they’re going to be dog chew toys.”
Rather than chew toys, the cash generated from the shoes will go toward the new shelter the parish government is currently repairing for the group.
“Sheetrock is up,” Grantham said. “It’s moving right along. They’re picking out floor covering and paint samples now.”
To donate new or gently used shoes, either contact Grantham or drop them by a participating business. Grantham’s number is 985-335-0758 and she said she can arrange to have someone pick up the shoes.