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For their future
You want to make a difference?
Here’s the good news: Hosting a shoe drive fundraiser is a meaningful and effective way to give back. By donating gently used shoes, you create new opportunities for families in need while helping reduce landfill waste by keeping valuable items in use.
Make an impact
Multiply your impact with a Soles4Souls shoe drive
Most people own many more pairs of shoes than they wear. By hosting a shoe drive, or a shoe collection fundraiser, you put unused footwear to work.
Many households have extra shoes sitting in closets. A community shoe drive makes it easy to turn those unused pairs into support for families, entrepreneurs, and communities around the world.
A Soles4Souls shoe drive allows schools, nonprofits, sports teams, faith groups, and community organizations to organize a powerful fundraiser simply by collecting donated shoes.
Create opportunity
The gently used shoes you collect are sent to low-income countries, where individuals launch small businesses by reselling them.
This provides a sustainable source of income for entrepreneurs and affordable footwear for people in need.
Generate income
By reselling donated shoes, entrepreneurs earn income to support their families and create lasting change in their communities. Learn how shoes can reduce poverty by 33%.
Many organizations discover that a shoe drive fundraiser is one of the most effective no-sell fundraising ideas. Instead of asking supporters for money, participants simply donate shoes they already own.
Some groups running the best shoe drive fundraiser campaigns collect thousands of pairs and generate significant funds while supporting global economic development.
Provide relief
New shoes can make a profound difference for children facing homelessness and hardship.
See how new shoes transform lives, and how funds generated through our 4Opportunity™ program provide direct assistance and disaster relief across the U.S. and beyond.
Protect the environment
Keeping gently used footwear in circulation reduces textile waste and encourages sustainable habits.
Discover why shoes matter and how donating helps divert items from landfills and protects the planet. Want to see the real-world results? Explore stories and impact on our blog.
You can also learn how to upcycle your shoes or discover which items are the best to donate to charity so you can give responsibly and make the biggest impact.
Create opportunity
The gently used shoes you collect are sent to low-income countries, where individuals launch small businesses by reselling them.
This provides a sustainable source of income for entrepreneurs and affordable footwear for people in need.
Generate income
By reselling donated shoes, entrepreneurs earn income to support their families and create lasting change in their communities. Learn how shoes can reduce poverty by 33%.
Many organizations discover that a shoe drive fundraiser is one of the most effective no-sell fundraising ideas. Instead of asking supporters for money, participants simply donate shoes they already own.
Some groups running the best shoe drive fundraiser campaigns collect thousands of pairs and generate significant funds while supporting global economic development.
Provide relief
New shoes can make a profound difference for children facing homelessness and hardship.
See how new shoes transform lives, and how funds generated through our 4Opportunity™ program provide direct assistance and disaster relief across the U.S. and beyond.
Protect the environment
Keeping gently used footwear in circulation reduces textile waste and encourages sustainable habits.
Discover why shoes matter and how donating helps divert items from landfills and protects the planet. Want to see the real-world results? Explore stories and impact on our blog.
You can also learn how to upcycle your shoes or discover which items are the best to donate to charity so you can give responsibly and make the biggest impact.
Shoe Drive
How to host a Shoe Drive
Hosting a shoe drive is easy with Soles4Souls. Follow these steps to get started.
Register
Start planning how you want to kick off your shoe drive and register to get started.
Collect
Once you register, you'll receive an email with all the resources you need to engage your community, collect shoes and maximize your impact! We'll be here to help along the way if you need it.
Deliver
When you're ready, either drop them off at a local collection point or ship them in. Find the location closest to you here. Be sure to fill out the digital donor form before shipping in/dropping off!
Choose Your Shoe Drive
Whether you’re collecting as an individual or with a team, we’ve got a shoe drive program to match your goals. Choose from one of these shoe drive options or customize your own!
Ten2Give
Collect 10,000 pairs of donated shoes, and Soles4Souls will organize a free shoe event in collaboration with a nonprofit organization in your community.
Ten2Travel
Collect 10,000 pairs of shoes and earn a free spot on a Soles4Souls global experience trip to see your impact firsthand.
25K Drive
Are you collecting with a group? Work together to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes and earn two free spots on a Soles4Souls global experience.
Ten2Give
Collect 10,000 pairs of donated shoes, and Soles4Souls will organize a free shoe event in collaboration with a nonprofit organization in your community.
Ten2Travel
Collect 10,000 pairs of shoes and earn a free spot on a Soles4Souls global experience trip to see your impact firsthand.
25K Drive
Are you collecting with a group? Work together to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes and earn two free spots on a Soles4Souls global experience.
Choose your Shoe Drive
You can choose to start one of these types of shoe drives, or customize your own!
Ten2Give
Collect 10,000 pairs of donated shoes, and Soles4Souls will organize a free shoe event in collaboration with a nonprofit organization in your community.
25k drive
Collect 25,000 pairs of donated shoes to help people around the globe and earn a trip for two to distribute new shoes.
Choose your Shoe Drive
You can choose to start one of these types of shoe drives, or customize your own!
Real Stories, Real Impact
Across the world, individuals, schools, and community groups are hosting shoe drives that change lives. These campaigns help families access affordable footwear, support micro-entrepreneurs, and keep usable shoes out of landfills.
See how a Boy Scout organized a successful shoe drive that brought a community together, read about a shoe drive in Singapore creating global impact, and discover how a pair of shoes can change a child’s future.
“Soles4Souls is more than a lesson in giving back – it’s a lesson in how easy it is to make ripple effects with small changes. It’s not just about shoes, it’s about changing lives. Actively participating in that process with my daughter has taught us both valuable life lessons and given us an opportunity to make meaningful change.”
Holly Maddox
FAQ
You have questions, and we have answers
Planning a shoe drive is easier than you think! We’ll help you every step of the way.
What is a shoe drive?
A shoe drive fundraiser collects new or gently used shoes and sneakers to support our mission of turning donated footwear into funding for global anti-poverty initiatives. By participating, donors promote recycling and help provide shoes to those in need, reinforcing environmental responsibility and community support.
Where do my shoe donations go?
Your shoe donations help support families in need around the world. Many donated shoes are distributed through micro-enterprise programs in developing countries. These programs allow individuals to start small businesses selling affordable footwear in their communities. This creates sustainable income and helps break the cycle of poverty. After your shoes arrive, our team works with trusted partners to determine where they will create the greatest impact.
What type of gently worn shoes do you accept?
We accept all styles, types and sizes of donated shoes, as long as they are gently worn! This includes sneakers, casual shoes, dress shoes, sandals, boots, and athletic footwear commonly collected during a shoe drive.
Do you accept single shoes?
Yes, we do accept mismatched shoes and single shoe donations. However, donating complete pairs helps maximize the impact of your shoe drive fundraiser and makes distribution easier for our partners.
How do I get my shoe donations to you?
Once you register, you will receive a list of our drop off locations where you can donate your shoes. Participants collecting shoes for a fundraiser can also organize community collection points at schools, workplaces, churches, and local events.
Does Soles4Souls supply shipping boxes and rubber bands?
No. Feel free to use whatever appropriate shipping boxes you have available to you. Size doesn’t matter. Most places like your local grocery store and retail shops usually have plenty of boxes that they could donate free of charge.
Can I get service hours for a shoe drive?
Yes, we offer one hour of service for every 25 pairs of shoes donated. This makes shoe drives a great option for students, youth groups, and community organizations that need volunteer hours.
How do I obtain a tax receipt for my donations?
After we receive your shoes, you’ll automatically receive a thank-you letter that doubles as your tax receipt (which is why the donor form is essential!). Need one sooner? You can request a tax receipt here.
Get in touch
Still got questions?
Don’t worry! One of our friendly team members will be happy to answer your shoe drive questions.