topic Re: Donating Shoes in Community Chat

Donating Shoes

kaydee50 — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 21:26:08 GMT

I have a couple of pair of shoes that are perfectly wearable but a little worn on the inside. Organizations that I have checked out that take shoes want them "new" or "gently used." Does anyone know of somewhere I can donate shoes in "good" condition??? TIA!

Re: Donating Shoes

Diva on The Q — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 21:30:10 GMT

Check your local homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities.

Re: Donating Shoes

KingstonsMom — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 21:41:21 GMT

Goodwill, Salvation Army, battered women's shelter, homeless shelter.

Re: Donating Shoes

lolakimono — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 21:48:49 GMT

@kaydee50

Depends on what they look like. Your local school theater program or community theater may be able to use them for a production. They often need them for costumes (one and done). I know my school is always looking for items to create costumes.

Re: Donating Shoes

Ms tyrion2 — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:10:34 GMT

Look at the shoes with an honest eye.

If you were looking at them at a thrift store and thought eww. No way, then there is your answer. Trash them.

Needy people don't need to settle for worn out shoes. There are plenty of very gently used pieces of clothing out there.

Re: Donating Shoes

grandma r — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:35:48 GMT

Our church collects shoes for Zimbabwe. Other churches collect shoes and clothing for those in need.
Check local churches. Good luck.

Re: Donating Shoes

Oznell — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:37:01 GMT

@kaydee50, the church donation center I volunteered at was thrilled to get gently worn shoes, and our clientele snapped them up eagerly. Sturdy boots are especially desirable this time of year.

I can't remember getting any that were in hideous condition, fortunately. If any clothing items did come in that were not presentable enough for our needy clients, we would either route them to local animal shelters (towels and blankets etc.) or accept them and discreetly dispose of them.

Keep trying and your gently worn items will go to great use!

Re: Donating Shoes

blackhole99 — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:40:11 GMT

I have never had a problem donating shoes anywhere, of course they want shoes that are hardly worn and #1 DO NOT STINK.LOL

Re: Donating Shoes

lulu1 — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 22:44:50 GMT

@grandma r wrote:
Our church collects shoes for Zimbabwe. Other churches collect shoes and clothing for those in need.
Check local churches. Good luck.

Schools in our area do the same.

Re: Donating Shoes

fthunt — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 23:42:02 GMT

@Ms tyrion2 Used shoes - unless very new b/c they hurt your feet - throw them in the trash. Wearing shoes that has another person's sweat gives me bonkers. Sweat is a very personal thing. Don't donate your used toothbrushes either...please!

Re: Donating Shoes

lovesrecess — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:55:23 GMT

Goodwill, Salvation Army, or homeless shelters.

Re: Donating Shoes

jonbon — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:48:38 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
@Ms tyrion2 Used shoes - unless very new b/c they hurt your feet - throw them in the trash. Wearing shoes that has another person's sweat gives me bonkers. Sweat is a very personal thing. Don't donate your used toothbrushes either...please!

Why throw away lightly worn shoes instead of donating them? How wasteful. If it bothers you, don't shop for "used" shoes; lots of people find what they need at thrift stores, consignment, etc. Spray some disinfectant in them and go. (I'm guessing you've never gone bowling and worn shoes from the bowling alley?)

Re: Donating Shoes

Peaches McPhee — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 16:51:35 GMT

I see them at Goodwill all the time.

Re: Donating Shoes

RedTop — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 18:39:00 GMT

My family donates our slightly used shoes to Union Mission all the time; I’m talking about shoes that look almost new. Any worn shoes go in the trash.

I dropped off a pair of my husbands shoes last week; 5E width. At one time, this UM had an established list of people who needed wide width shoes, and they would be called when that size shoe was donated. My husbands shoes find new homes quickly.

Re: Donating Shoes

Lucky Charm — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 20:55:07 GMT

I guess I'm wondering what you mean by 'worn out on the inside'. Are they dirty looking?

Usually shoes show their *life* on the outside. Worn down heels, scuff marks, cracks/creases or just dull/unpolished looking.

I clean the inside of my shoes with wipes or soapy paper towels to keep sand and dirt out of them. Maybe you need to do that?

I believe anyone in need, will take a decent pair of shoes, no matter what. Everyone needs something to wear on their feet. No matter the clime.

Re: Donating Shoes

CelticCrafter — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 21:27:08 GMT

@Ms tyrion2 wrote:
Look at the shoes with an honest eye.
If you were looking at them at a thrift store and thought eww. No way, then there is your answer. Trash them.

Needy people don't need to settle for worn out shoes. There are plenty of very gently used pieces of clothing out there.

When it comes to donating clothing, etc., the way I look at it, if I don't want to wear it, why would I expect someone else to want to wear it.

Re: Donating Shoes

Pearlee — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 22:55:13 GMT

@kaydee50. Do you shop at DSW. (Shoe store)
IF you donate shoes there (which the store passes on to charity) they give you I think 50 points per pair on your DSW store card. Points add up to dollars off reward certificates.

Re: Donating Shoes

lovescats — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 03:59:53 GMT

I just wonder did you show the shoes to any charities and they wouldn't take them or are you just going by what you think they will tell you?

I never wear my shoes without socks but I think today a lot of people never wear socks.

Re: Donating Shoes

pprmntstx — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 21:22:45 GMT

@fthunt

@fthunt wrote:
@Ms tyrion2 Used shoes - unless very new b/c they hurt your feet - throw them in the trash. Wearing shoes that has another person's sweat gives me bonkers. Sweat is a very personal thing. Don't donate your used toothbrushes either...please!

For sweat on used shoes for sale, check out Ebay or Poshmark, and you will see that people are selling their very worn and sweat stained Tieks shoes for well over one hundred dollars a pair!

Re: Donating Shoes

ALRATIBA — Fri, 14 Aug 2020 21:43:56 GMT

I've donated shoes to charity for years!

First time - I broke some bones in my right foot - and doc said that my high heel days were over. I donated bags and bags of shoes.

I bought some summer shoes this year that I only wore once or twice - they are all gong in the next donation bag. I won't wear them next year.

Have you ever walked past thirft shops and looked at their window displays? They all sell used shoes.