Eighth graders looking for a leg up to make shoe drive a success

Bella Bailey

Multimedia Correspondent

Eighth graders at Holy Cross Elementary School, Covington, have organized a shoe drive within their school community in an effort to send 2,500 shoes to those in need across the world. Partnered with Funds2Orgs, a company which hosts shoe drive fundraisers, the eighth graders hope to make an impact this Christmas season.

Fundraising and charitable giving is not new to Holy Cross Elementary eighth graders, said Quinn, a leader of the shoe drive. “Every eighth grade has a fundraiser that they do. A couple of years ago they collected old phones, for us it happened to be a shoe drive.”

So far, the students have collected approximately 750 pairs of shoes but need help from community members to reach their lofty 2,500 pair goal.

“Everyone who reads the Messenger should have a very thoughtful heart on why they should help. This is to help guide the heart to do more good,” said Quinn.

“There are other people out there who, unfortunately, are not as fortunate as many in the Holy Cross community. I feel like they should donate because there’s people who really need shoes out there and can’t afford them,” said Madison, also a shoe drive leader.

With the shoes being donated internationally, Quinn emphasized the importance of donating multiple pairs of shoes because, “There are some people in less fortunate countries who have no shoes per person, it’s like there’s one pair of shoes for three children. That’s not enough,” she said.

Quinn and Madison have been diligently emailing news agencies and potential partner organizations like the Latonia branch library and Catholic Charities, Covington. Their efforts have yielded many donation bins throughout the Holy Cross campus. “We have donation bins everywhere,” said Madison.

“Most people donate them to the office. We also have a bin at the Holy Cross High School, and one at the Latonia branch library and we also have a bin at the Holy Cross Daycare closer to the gym,” said Quinn.

Once the shoes are donated, the team inspects them carefully for damage that would make them unwearable. “If they’re dirty that’s fine, but they can’t be beat up,” said Madison.

After they have been approved by the team the laces are tied together, or the pair is banded, so that they will not be separated, before being put in the bag for donations.

The shoe drive ends Dec. 2, just in time for the holiday season. “We are in dire need of help,” said Quinn. “It could be like a present from the community.”