An Arlington preschool is seeking donations of footwear to support families around the world.
The Children’s School is asking for “gently used, wearable shoes” in either adult’s or children’s sizes through Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Footwear can be dropped off anytime in front of the school at 4770 Langston Blvd, in the Glebewood neighborhood. It will be sent to “micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries, who clean and resell them to support their families,” according to Cavangaline Ballenger, the school’s managing director.
Through the partnership with Funds2Orgs, The Children’s School will receive a monetary donation based on the total weight of the shoes collected.
“This shoe drive allows Arlington families to make a difference both locally and globally,” Ballenger told ARLnow. “By donating gently worn shoes, our community helps children and adults in need around the world, keeps usable items out of landfills and supports The Children’s School and Integration Station in serving children with disabilities alongside their general education peers.”
As of Monday, the school had collected 75 bags of gently used shoes.
To be accepted, shoes must be “wearable,” without holes or broken soles; skates, ski and snowboard boots are not accepted. Donations are requested to be bagged and dropped off near the main door of the school.
“It’s a simple act with a powerful ripple effect, strengthening our school while extending kindness far beyond Arlington,” Ballenger said.
Funds2Orgs, which was established in 2013, has collected more than 37 million shoes from around the world and paid out more than $19 million to schools, nonprofits and other partners.
