Cheryl Brockmann of Changing Footprints of Northern Indiana has announced that their non-profit organization collected 35,424 pairs of shoes for the poor and homeless in 2023. Working with several social service agencies, they distributed 30,203 pairs. No one was ever charged money to receive these shoes. Each pair of donated shoes helped one person have a better life.
Changing Footprints is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization, without any paid staff. There are 5 main distribution locations in Indiana: Rushville, North Indy, South Indy, Greenfield, and Northern Indiana. Established in 2005, they have distributed over 600,000 pairs in the past 18 years. They collect new and used shoes from a variety of sources: collection bins at athletic facilities, physical therapy offices, shoe stores and churches. Shoe drives by schools, churches, and businesses are essential in the effort to meet the growing demand for gently used shoes.
Changing Footprints tie the pairs together. Then they sort them into one of 42 different types (male/female; sandals, high heels, etc.). This collection and re-distribution effort diverts shoes to an important cause that would otherwise be destined for landfills.
Changing Footprints accepts all styles, types and sizes of shoes, no matter their condition, or even if they are a single shoe without a mate. Damaged athletic style shoes are ground up into playground surfaces and running tracks by Nike, Zappos and other companies. Donation bins can be found by going to: changingfootprints.com and clicking on the “shoe drops tab”.
