La Crosse Jaycees hosting Shoes With Heart shoe drive fundraiser

JCI La Crosse Jaycees is conducting a Shoes with Heart fundraiser through May 30.

“Our goal is to collect 2,500 pairs of shoes that will be donated to the Shoes with Heart program,” Chapter President Amanda Jones told WIZM.

The La Crosse Jaycees will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes.

Those dollars will benefit our local chapter and upcoming projects within the community.

Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes at one of our Barrel Donation sites (listed below) or drive through shoe drives at the Radisson Hotel parking lot from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturdays through May 8.

“This is a brand new program for us,” Jones said. “It’s the first year we’re trying this one out. Hopefully it will be really successful so we can continue to do it in the future.”

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners.

Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited.

Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send to her son to law school.

“We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate,” Jones said in a statement. “By doing so, we raise money to benefit local projects and have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

Jones added the La Crosse Jaycees are always looking for volunteers.

“With the shoes drives we’ll be having on Saturdays, we’re welcoming anyone from the community to come help us collect,” Jones said.

If you’re interested, you can reach out by phone, email or their Facebook page.

Donation Sites:
(please contact each location for individual hours of operation and Covid-19 procedures)

Biolife Plasma – Onalaska
Children’s Tree House – Onalaska
Citizens State Bank – La Crosse and Onalaska
Coulee Bank – Holmen, Onalaska, and La Crosse
Crown Beverage Packaging – La Crosse
Heavenly Crossroads Salon – Holmen and La Crosse
Hydrite Chemical – La Crosse
IC Systems – Onalaska
Johnson Block and Co. – La Crosse
La Crosse Country Club – La Crosse
La Crosse Sign Group – La Crosse
Sitara Salon and Spa – La Crosse