Fossil Ridge High School Students Aim to Collect 5,000 Pairs of Shoes to Help Fight Global Poverty

Sara Shannon, Soles4Souls

Fort Collins, Colorado (March 1, 2018) – One person’s unwanted shoes can help provide meaningful opportunities that many in developing nations need, which is why Fossil Ridge High School’s Future Business Leaders of America students have launched a city-wide shoe drive to collect 5,000 pairs of new or gently used shoes. Currently, there are nine drop-off points throughout Fort Collins.

The shoes that the students collect will be delivered to Soles4Souls–a non-profit social enterprise that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Founded in 2006, the organization has distributed more than 30 million pairs of new and used shoes in 127 countries.

“Our group has become a strong supporter of Soles4Souls’ mission,” said Carolynne Camp, Fossil Ridge High School Senior and FBLA member. “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 which are children, live on less than $1.90 per day. Millions of these 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 Fort Collins’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 Camp. “Give those to Soles4Souls instead, and know that you are taking a step to help disrupt the cycle of poverty around the globe.”

Ft. Collins’ City Wide shoe drive for Soles4Souls information:

• Now through March 9, bring your new or used shoes of any kind to: 

Faith Church, Fort Collins
3920 S Shields St, Fort Collins, CO 80526

Runners Roost, Fort Collins
2720 Council Tree Ave #112, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Crane and Seager Orthodontics, Fort Collins
3520 E 15th St, Loveland, CO 80538

Crane and Seager Orthodontics, Loveland
4144 S Timberline Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Pediatric Dentistry of the Rockies, Fort Collins
4609 S Timberline Rd Suite 103B, Fort Collins, CO 80528

Epic Pool and Ice Center, Fort Collins
1801 Riverside Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Jax, Fort Collins
1200 N College Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Alley Cat, Fort Collins
120 W Laurel St, Fort Collins, CO 80524

Linda Holdredge and Associates Loveland
365 E 27th St, Loveland, CO 80538

For more information, please contact Emory Dinner, Regional Donation Center Manager – Colorado,
615-289-0416, [email protected]