When Solihull Rotary Club appealed for shoes in support of a national charity, local schoolchildren were quick to step up!
Pupils at Hasluck Green Primary School and Forest Oak School donated three car-loads towards a huge collection of 600 bags of shoes, amassed as a result of the Club’s ongoing appeal.
Club President Phil Godfrey said: “Can you imagine a place where thousands of men, women and children wear footwear that is not fit for purpose. Where at least 280,000 homeless people (up to 10,000 of them living on the streets) have no shoes, or shoes that are falling to pieces. Then realise that we’re actually talking about the UK.
“School children are often a great source of footwear for such charities as they grow out of their shoes quicker than they can wear them out. They are also one of the key groups in society that have a keen desire to help others.
“We are delighted that we are helping this very urgent and vital need, saving shoes from the landfill, and giving them to desperate people.”
Over 2 million shoes are thrown into landfill every week. On average, one pair of shoes takes upwards of one thousand years to biodegrade (synthetic fibres and textiles.) This footwear can be recycled, repurposed, and used to combat footwear poverty. Men, women, and children benefit directly from donated footwear.
Shoe Aid is helping to avoid an environmental disaster for shoe manufacturers and distributors.
The charity has provided education to tens of thousands of people and hundreds of organisations of recycling and repurposing footwear, whilst donating over 100,000 items of footwear in England, Scotland and Wales last year.
Andy Hughes, CEO of Shoe Aid, said: “We have worked with Rotary Solihull for a number of years. In that time they have been instrumental in collecting shoes from the local community which are then used as donations to support families and individuals up and down the country who are struggling due to the cost of living crisis that this country has faced in the last 5 to 6 years.
“They have also selflessly used space within their own homes to store donations made by people in the local community to be used to combat footwear poverty.
“The impact these donations make on individuals is making a huge difference, whether man woman or child. Notwithstanding the local communities, the national demand for footwear to support people’s everyday lives is increasing exponentially year on year. This support, coupled with the selflessness of the Rotary and many members ensure the charity can continue to impact thousands of lives.”
He added: “Ultimately, Shoe Aid supports people who are excluded, struggling and often overlooked and we do it in a way that restores dignity, reduces shame and gives people something practical and life changing. Footwear may seem simple, but for those we support, it’s a gateway to health, confidence, education and connection.”
“If you or your company, school, college or university, community enterprise would like to STEP UP for Shoe Aid, we would love you to get in touch, organise a collection or donate your surplus or returned stock.”
Further donations of footwear, including shoes, wellies, boots etc. are always welcomed, by contacting Phil at: philcgodfrey@btinternet.com or Andy at: info@shoeaid.co.uk or on 07511 983508.
Cash donations are still needed to support the work of the charity. Visit: https://www.paypal.com/donate?token=hxhiG5medRX4b-G3uGDXoyM46lYtvkUnUapz2_RP4UnH8H2I3D0KXBWFTcSobLFz1oo5MLx7oVoFVs8j
More about Shoe Aid can be found here: www.shoeaid.co.uk.