Church collects shoes to help less fortunate
When a church is able to give back to those in need while also raising funds for philanthropic efforts, it’s double the pleasure. For Union Bethel A.M.E. Church, 1716 Richard Allen Lane, they are doing exactly that with their shoe drive.
The church is collecting shoes that will be sent to Funds2Orgs, which is an organization that pays a nonprofit or church for the total amount of shoes they collect. Funds2Orgs then in turn donates the shoes to those in need in underdeveloped countries.
For this drive, the shoes collected will be given to needy children in Africa. So far the church has been collecting shoes from church and family members. They have now opened the door to receive donations from around the city.
Their goal is to collect 300 bags of shoes with 25 pairs of shoes in each bag. They are looking for new or slightly worn shoes to be donated in any size.
“When the pastor brought this to our attention, I thought this was a good idea,” said Gwendolyn Pryor, one of the shoe drive organizers. “When you can help someone in need while also having a church fundraiser, it just makes it that much better.”
If the church is able to reach their goal, they will receive $3,000 for their efforts. That money will go to various outreach programs inside the church.
The church will be collecting shoes until Feb. 9. The organizers say for those who are interested in donating, call (336) 723-4903 and ask for Mimi.
They also stated they will come to your location to pick the shoes up if you are not able to get out and about. One can also come to the church and leave their donations there. The church holds Sunday service at 11 a.m.
“We all have shoes that we no longer wear and now is the time of year that we need to purge our closest anyway so why not donate,” said Leronada Kirby, a shoe drive organizer.
The ladies stated that if this shoe drive is a success, they will make this an annual event. They stated because they are a small church that has been in existence for 120 years, they have to find unique ways to raise funds for the church.
Union Bethel is led by church pastor Dr. Jasper W. Hemphill Jr.
