Campus Recreation is collecting gently-used athletic shoes through April 28. The drive benefits the MORE Foundation Group’s sustainability and economic development projects in Ghana and Honduras.
Collection boxes are located at the atriums of the Campus Rec Center, Outdoor Adventures Center and Rec and Wellness Center.
“Campus Recreation is excited for the local community to have a global impact,” said Christopher Dulak, senior assistant director for marketing and communications. “This shoe drive keeps the shoes out of landfills while simultaneously creating new agroforestry industries in impoverished global areas. Each tree planted reduces our carbon footprint. One pair of shoes reduces one ton of CO2. Six hundred shoes funds the 12-month training for a family to become economically and environmentally sustainable.
“Our active lives can improve the lives of others.”
Shoes must be in gently-used (but not overly abused) condition to be accepted and beneficial. Women’s and men’s sizes 7 to 11 are the most preferred, yet all sizes will be taken. Only athletic shoes and soccer shoes are being collected. Street or dress shoes are not accepted.
MORE Foundation Group collects shoes to prevent them from being deposited in landfills. The group uses proceeds from the shoes to plant thousands of trees each year to help offset carbon in the atmosphere. Each pair of donated shoes is equal to the elimination of one ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Four global communities – one in Honduras and three in Ghana – benefit economically from the agroforestry industry created in their area. For additional information about the foundation, click here.
For details about the shoe drive, call 402-472-8749.
