The Woman’s Club of Cranbury is helping to fight poverty by collecting gently worn pairs of shoes that will eventually find their way to other nations and help individuals in need.
Between April 1 and April 30, the club is seeking donations of shoes for men, women and children. The shoe drive is in its first year and is being conducted in partnership with Soles4Souls, according to club officials.
Soles4Soules is a nonprofit organization that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world, according to the organization’s website.
In some cases, donated shoes reach people who do not have shoes and cannot easily walk to school or a job. Obtaining a pair of shoes allows an individual to get to work or school. In other cases, individuals may start a small business selling the shoes that have been donated, according to the website.
“We are going to collect as many pairs of shoes as we can. Soles4Souls has offices in New Jersey and we will take the shoes we collect there,” said Susan Adiletta, a 13-year member of the club and organizer of the event.
Adiletta said in Lyndhurst, which is located in Bergen County, organizers of a shoe drive collected 11,000 pairs of shoes. The Woman’s Club of Cranbury has not set a goal, but she said, “It would be great to get shoes for children.”
The donated shoes will be sent to Haiti, Honduras and other developing nations, club officials said.
“We helped join many other organizations to (show) we are a group of women who are not out here drinking tea,” Adiletta said. “We are trying to help not only our community, but others. To be able to help this international organization is even more special today. We are just glad to be able to help at that kind of a level.
“It is a nice feeling to know you are part of helping people who live on less than $2 a day. When you partner with a worthwhile organization such as Soles4Souls, it is nice to do your part,” Adiletta said.
Cranbury residents who wish to donate new or gently worn shoes may do so at the Highbar Boutique, 33 N. Main St., the Cranbury Public Library, 23 N. Main St., and the Cranbury Post Office, 65 N. Main St. For more information, contact Susan Adiletta at 609-937-9332 or email Thea8602@yahoo.com
