Those with extra pairs of shoes in their closets are invited to donate them as part of a fundraiser being held by Cochranville resident Jennifer Sheppard to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The drive began on June 1 and will run through Sunday, Aug. 31. Sheppard will come pick up the shoes for those who contact her.

Sheppard, with the help of her daughter, Taylor Love, a teacher in the Coatesville Area School District, is seeking new or gently used shoes for men, women and children, including sneakers, sandals, boots and sporting shoes like cleats.

All donated shoes will be given to Funds2Orgs, a nonprofit organization that repurposes shoes. According to www.funds2orgs.com, the shoes are sold for a nominal cost to micro-entrepreneurs around the world. Micro-entrepreneurs sell the shoes for a profit, which allows them to feed, clothe and house their families. Charities can earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of shoes collected.

"They organize or help you organize a shoe drive," Sheppard explained. "As the person organizing the drive, you can choose whatever organization you want (to benefit)."

Sheppard and Love also participate in the Susan G. Komen Walk for Cancer. "We actually do the one in San Deigo in November," Sheppard noted. "We do it in remembrance of family members and friends who have passed, for those currently fighting and to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research."

At the conclusion of the drive, Funds2Orgs will pick up the shoes that are collected. "They are based in Florida but run all over the country. We have a pole building where we are storing all the shoes, and they will send a box truck to my house," Sheppard noted. "They have minimum of 90 bags of shoes and 25 pairs of shoes per bag."

Sheppard and Love have a goal of gathering at least 3,500 pairs. To date, they have collected between 2,500 and 2,700 pairs, with additional pairs coming in from a shoe collection competition at Sheppard's place of work.

"Our goal was to get 5,000 pairs, and that's a lot more shoes than we thought. We are shooting to get as many as we can," she stated. "They have 60-day time limit."

Sheppard said picking up the donations has been time-consuming, but for now it is the best way to collect them. Plans for future shoe drives may include establishing a drop-off location or scheduling a drive-through donation day.

"We have primarily been doing pickups because we found it is more dependable. We get a lot of response if you tell people we will pick them up, and they will have them on the porch," Sheppard said, noting that during one recent Sunday, she and her daughter drove for more than four hours picking up shoes. "We (have traveled) everywhere from Downingtown to Coatesville to Cochranville and Oxford. This has been the most efficient way to get the shoes, not efficient in gas mileage but it has been fruitful."

They have also heard many inspirational stories along the way. For example, one gentleman whose wife passed away wanted to donate all her shoes. "It's been an experience. One woman wanted to give us all of her shoes because she was going into hospice and said she didn't need them anymore," Sheppard shared. "We have cancer survivors who have helped and love the idea. It has touched a lot of people."

She emphasized that donations must be of good quality. "They will be reused. They won't be thrown away or recycled; they have to be wearable," noted Sheppard. "It is very important because the organization itself is using them to stimulate the economy and helping people start their own business by opening shoe stores. It's a cool and inventive idea."

"I have been blown away by the donations we have gotten," she added. "I have only had to pull out fewer than 10 pairs (due to poor quality) of all of the hundreds we have gotten."

Sheppard and Love plan to hold the shoe drive again prior to next year's walk. "Every penny you make goes to the organization. That was a draw for me," said Sheppard. "(I thought,) 'Let 's give it our best shot and see how it goes.'"

Those who would like to donate shoes, may email Jennsheppard1@gmail.com to arrange for pickup.