CULLMAN – In the dark, back corner of most people’s closet lives a pile of neglected, shoved-aside-for-newer-model shoes. Kids and teens who are in the midst of growth spurts can go through seemingly countless pairs of shoes a year. But, what do we do with all of the leftover shoes that are too nice for the trash but not in our consistent wardrobe rotation?
The Cullman County Shoe Drive for Children’s of Alabama, sponsored by the Cullman Kiwanis Club and aided by numerous schools and churches in the area, has a solution for the shoe mountain epidemic. Used, but still wearable, pairs of shoes can be donated at various locations throughout the county. It is requested that pairs of shoes be tied together to ensure no shoe gets left behind.
Handling the logistics of the shoe drive is the Holly Pond Key Club, who have ensured that the collection boxes will be available until late September. Once collected, the shoes will be sold to a nonprofit organization, Funds2Org, who then distribute the shoes to third-world countries. The money earned from the shoes will be donated to Children’s of Alabama.
Bob Palys of Cullman Kiwanis Club explained why Children’s of Alabama was selected to receive the financial aid generated by the shoe drive. “We have chosen Children's of Alabama because of its dedication and commitment to children. In 2015, there were approximately 6,000 inpatient/outpatient days on which children from Cullman County were treated. Children's totaled over 750,000 patient days in caring for children from all 67 Alabama counties, 41 other states and eight foreign countries.”
Opening in 1911, Children’s of Alabama is a private, nonprofit medical center that is dedicated to the sole practice of pediatric medicine. As the nation’s third largest pediatric hospital at its Birmingham campus, Children’s provides the home for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s pediatric programs. In addition to the hospital in Birmingham, Children’s also has more than 10 outpatient, pediatric centers in the state.
To help fund the programs at Children’s of Alabama by donating shoes, please visit a drop-off box at one of the following locations:
- Addison School
- Cold Springs Middle School
- Cullman High School
- East Elementary
- Fairview Elementary School
- Fairview Middle School
- Fairview High School Key Club
- Hanceville Elementary School
- Hanceville Middle School
- Harmony School
- Holly Pond Elementary School
- Holly Pond Middle School
- Holly Pond High School
- Vinemont Middle School
- Wallace State Community College
- Welti School
- Winston County Schools
- Concord Baptist Church Fairview
- Duck River Baptist Church
- New Home Baptist Church Holly Pond
- St. Andrews Church
- St. John's Church
- Welti Cumberland Presbyterian Church
- Cullman Cabinet
- Rusken Packaging
- People's Bank in Baileyton, Cullman, Hanceville and Holly Pond
- Cullman Kiwanis Club
- Winston County Kiwanis Club
If you are interested in placing a drop-off container at your church, business, school or community center, 25 donation boxes, donated by Rusken Packaging, are available to be delivered to your location. These containers can be claimed and delivery scheduled by contacting Todd Abbott of Wallace State Community College at 256-352-8258 or by email at todd.abbott@wallacestate.edu.
For more information about the shoe drive or the Kiwanis Club and its civic duties, please contact Bob Palys at 256-352-2793. Visit the Cullman County Shoe Drive for Children's of Alabama Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/cullmancountyshoedrive/.
