School’s almost out for summer and it’s nearly time to bin the regulation footwear and dig out the flip flops and trainers. But before discarding those unwanted school shoes, the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) are asking families not to forget their annual ‘Re-Use Ya Shoes!’ campaign.
Instead of binning old school shoes, football boots, trainers and wellies, the charity is asking supporters to donate their footwear and help to raise thousands of pounds to help keep the Air Ambulance flying and saving lives. Shoes of every shape, size, condition and colour are welcome, from the boot without a sole to the down at heel stiletto. It doesn’t matter how old or what condition they are in, any shoes can be re-cycled.
Much like HIOWAA’s ‘Bag A Bra’ campaign, all shoes are sold on through reputable traders in other countries, or if they are in really bad condition, they can be used for parts to repair other footwear, so nothing is wasted.
The charity is especially keen for local schools to get involved, and is asking children to fill as many bags as they can, and to build towers of shoes in the playground. There are prizes available for the schools that succeed in collecting the most shoes and in building the highest towers of shoes. Running clubs, gyms and sports clubs are also encouraged to take part.
The re-cycling for clothes, shoes and textiles is HIOWAA’s second biggest single source of income and re-cycling campaigns such as ‘Re-Use Ya Shoes! Day’ have been so successful that they have become key dates in the charity’s fundraising calendar. Last year, forty two schools across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight threw themselves behind the campaign and over a tonne of shoes were collected for re-cycling. As a result, this year’s Re-Use Ya Shoes! campaign will be spread over a full week from Monday 15th – Friday 19th September.
Charity Manager Sherie Williams Ellen commented:
“Our Re-Use Ya Shoes! campaign will be bigger and better than ever this year. The response that we had from schools last year was truly heartening and children seemed to really embrace the idea of re-cycling shoes to help save lives. We already have over thirty schools signed up across the county to participate this year, and more schools are signing up every day”.
For more information about ‘Re-use Ya Shoes!’ please visit www.hiow-airambulance.org.uk or call the office on 02380 333377 to request a special green re-cycling bag. Any schools, colleges, nurseries, gyms and clubs wishing to participate are requested to sign up on line before July 16th. Volunteers from the charity will be collecting shoes throughout the week of September 15 – 19th.
