A couple of pairs of shoes wait for pickup in the Shepherdstown Public Library's collection box last Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — New and gently worn shoes in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes are currently being collected, as part of the New Street United Methodist Church Shoe Drive.

The shoe drive, which began on Aug. 19, will continue through Nov. 10. According to organizer Carol Goldthorpe, the plans for a shoe drive began forming in June.

“We were talking about different fundraisers at church that we could do, to help maintain our historical building,” Goldthorpe said of the building, which was constructed in 1854. “I threw out this idea and everyone liked it.”

According to Goldthorpe, the reason the idea was so popular, was because it would not only raise some funds for the church, but would also help many people in need. The shoes are being delivered to two shoe recycling organizations — GotSneakers, LLC and The Fundraising Company (TFC).

“The shoes are sent overseas to poor nations. They are given to female entrepreneurs to shoe their entire communities,” Goldthorpe said, mentioning this project will also keep many shoes out of the landfill. “It’s a win-win for everyone!”

A collection box sits in the entrance to the Shepherd University Student Center on Monday. Tabitha Johnston

Within the first three weeks of the shoe drive, around 600 pairs of shoes had been collected, with hopes for many more to come.

“It’s a good time of year to do this, because kids are getting new shoes for school and people are switching over to their winter wardrobes,” Goldthorpe said. “We have seen so many donations! It’s been a great opportunity to do this now.”

Currently, the New Street UMC Shoe Drive has a total of 14 donation sites with collection boxes for shoes, which must be in new or gently worn condition. Most shoes — sandals boots, flats, sneakers, soccer cleats, dress shoes, running shoes and basketball shoes — are able to be used by people in the countries that GoSneakers and TFC partner with. However, shoes with noticeable wear, metal cleats or stiletto heels, as well as fluffy slippers and snow boots, are of no use to them and therefore cannot be accepted.

“The people who will be getting these shoes are very hardworking folks, who have to do a lot of walking,” Goldthorpe said. “So, they don’t wear stiletto shoes. They want the boots and the sneakers and other things like that.”

The collection boxes are located at Jefferson High School and Saint James Lutheran Church in Shenandoah Junction, as well as 12 Shepherdstown locations, including: Shepherdstown Public Library, Shepherd University Student Center, Shepherdstown Volunteer Fire Department, Covenant Church, Jefferson Security Bank, New Street United Methodist Church, Saint Agnes Catholic Church, Shepherd University Wellness Center, Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church, Asbury United Methodist Church, Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church and Trinity Episcopal Church.

“We have a lot of team members monitoring boxes and helping to make this fundraiser a success. So far, it’s been doing really well! They’re all around Shepherdstown,” Goldthorpe said. “People are responding. It’s been wonderful!”

Those who come to New Street UMC’s pancake breakfasts on Sept. 14 and Nov. 9 and spaghetti dinner on Oct. 11 are encouraged to bring along a pair of shoes for donation.

For more information, contact Goldthorpe at 304-396-5244.