Shoe drive meant to help small businesses in Latrobe area, developing countries

Surplus or outgrown footwear may find a second life while supporting businesses in the Latrobe area and abroad.

The Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce is collecting gently worn or new shoes in a drive to raise money for chamber programs and services while offering opportunities for micro-business entrepreneurs in developing countries.

“I thought it was kind of neat,” chamber President Briana Tomack said of the drive, conducted in partnership with Florida-based fundraising company Funds2Orgs. “Along with helping local small businesses, we’ll be helping people in (developing) countries start a micro-business, opening a shoe store.”

Through the end of September, the chamber will accept shoe donations in a bin at its visitor center, located at at 811 Ligonier St., Latrobe.

Shoes also may be dropped off at the Latrobe Auto Group, 1595 Mission Road in Unity, or at any area Valley Dairy restaurant.

The drive is a win-win, Tomack said, pointing out that re-purposing unwanted shoes keeps them from adding to the waste in landfills.

She urged residents to “clean out your closets. Kids often grow out of shoes before they’re worn out.”

The shoes collected by the chamber will be picked up by Funds2Orgs and will be processed and sent to help support small enterprises in 24 developing countries, including Ghana and Haiti.

“Our basic goal when we work with an organization is to collect 100 bags of shoes, each with 25 pairs,” said Donna Paulus, vice president of client relations for Funds2Orgs.

Even before the official start of the drive on Monday, the chamber amassed 50 pairs of shoes contributed by its staff, Tomack said.

With Funds2Orgs paying its fundraising partners 40 cents per pound of footwear, the chamber stands to collect about $1,000 if it reaches the minimum goal of 2,500 pairs of shoes.

“The point is to engage the community and help support small businesses,” Tomack said.