If you live in the Mansfield, Ohio area please donate your gently used or new shoes during our shoe drive. We are collecting shoes, sandals, boots, athletic shoes….any footwear. We cannot accept one shoe, it must be a pair which is not worn out.

The shoes will be sold to small business entrepreneurs in third world countries. The money from the sale of the shoes will then be used to purchase food, school supplies, and blankets for orphans in Malawi.

Why purchase food?
-The physical growth of at least 50% of the children in Malawi under the age of 5 has been stunted because of chronic malnutrition. It is estimated that 55% to 74% of its population live in extreme poverty. Many families will take in several orphans so the strain on their household is great in this extremely poor country. Therefore, it is very helpful for the caregivers to have the orphans fed at the orphan project.

Why provide school supplies?
-School supplies are not provided by the school so the student must bring their own. In this extremely poor country, most students cannot afford any school supplies.

Why provide blankets?
-Blankets in rural Malawi are a luxury. Malawi is one of the world’s most underprivileged countries. About 85% of the population of Malawi lives in rural areas and depends on subsistence farming. These families focus on basic necessities for their survival. A blanket is not a basic necessity. When these families take in orphans and other vulnerable children they share what little they have with even more people. In the colder months of May – August it is not uncommon for families to have fires inside their huts to keep warm. These inside fires are unhealthy and it is not uncommon for children to burn themselves because they slept close to the fire or for the hut to catch on fire. During the colder months school attendance drops by 25% due to preventable illnesses from the cold.

Bring your shoes to any of the collection locations during their regular business hours before October 22, unless otherwise indicated.

Bellville Post Office, 105 Bell St, Bellville (through Oct 31)
Butler Post Office, 14 W Elm St, Butler (through Oct 31)
Crowes Shoes, 56 N. Main Street, Mansfield
Elmcroft of Ontario, 2010 Walker Lake Road, Mansfield
First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Ave. West, Mansfield
Lexington Church of the Cross, 236 Otterbein Drive, Lexington
Lexington Child Development Center, 236 Otterbein Drive, Lexington
Richland Newhope Industries, 150 E 4th St, Mansfield                                                                                             St. Paul Lutheran Church, 48 Church St, Bellville
Stoodt’s Market, 184 Main St, Bellville (through Oct 31)
Wedgewood Estates, 600 S. Trimble Road, Mansfield
Winchester Terrace, 70 Winchester Rd, Mansfield