The Independence Lions Club is stepping up to make a difference—one pair of shoes at a time! Beginning September 1st, the club will be collecting new and gently used shoes for Soles4Souls, a global nonprofit dedicated to turning unwanted shoes into opportunities.
Soles4Souls
Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 107 million pairs of shoes to people in all 50 U.S. states and 139 countries. These donations have created over $698 million in economic impact for the communities they serve.
Through its four programs — 4Opportunity, 4Relief, 4EveryKid, and 4ThePlanet — Soles4Souls uses shoes to improve lives in powerful ways:
- 4Opportunity helps entrepreneurs in developing countries start and grow small businesses by selling donated shoes. Many have more than doubled their household income, allowing them to purchase homes, send their children to school, and lift themselves above the poverty line.
- 4Relief provides new shoes to people facing crisis situations, such as natural disasters or homelessness, helping them regain stability and improve their health.
- 4EveryKid ensures that children experiencing homelessness in the U.S. receive new athletic shoes, boosting their confidence, increasing school attendance, and encouraging participation in sports and activities.
- 4ThePlanet extends the life of shoes, keeping them out of landfills. On average, a used pair of shoes gains 15 more months of wear, and the program has already diverted millions of pounds of footwear from waste.
The need is great. Around the world, hundreds of millions of people live without adequate footwear, leaving them vulnerable to injury, illness, and barriers to education and employment. At the same time, Americans throw away millions of pounds of shoes every year, most of which end up in landfills.
How You Can Help
It’s simple—look through your closets and gather shoes you no longer wear. All sizes, styles, and conditions are welcome, even just one shoe, as long as they are in wearable condition. Every shoe makes a difference!
Collection sites and drop-off details will be announced soon. The drive will run throughout the fall, so there’s plenty of time to clean out your closet and support this meaningful cause.
By donating your shoes, you’re helping the Independence Lions Club change lives, protect the environment, and give hope to people in need—both locally and globally.
For more information about the Independence Lions Club shoe drive, including drop-off locations and collection dates, please contact Mary Weber 319-361-0243 or Chris Waring 563-920-0857.
