A Local Running Shoe Re-Use Opportunity

I recently joined my local running community’s online message board located at the Rochester Running Page. I've found it to be a pretty neat way to keep abreast of local running events, races, and a valuable place to share thoughts and ideas about the local running scene. Among the interesting posted topics of conversation was information (the original post from which I've "cribbed" much of the details related in this post) regarding the collection of worn out sneakers. It seems one of our area's numerous Rotary Clubs (the Williamson Rotary Club) will be collecting old sneakers and running shoes at the May 18 Williamson Apple Blossom 10K road race.

What a great idea! While I've heard of these recycling opportunities, I've never known the "wheres" and "whens"... or at least been aware enough of them in advance to participate. This thoughtful practice is where shoes are collected, ground up and recycled then into things such as all season weather tracks for inner city underprivileged schools.

Sneakers that are in better than worn out shape are given to needy people all over the globe. To date with the efforts of about 30 Rotary clubs, over 20,000 sneakers have been redistributed to the needy. 1,100 pair went to Florida hurricane victims, 1,400 pair went to Malawi Children’s Village in Africa, 7,000 pair went to Salvation Army Family Relief, 900 pair went to Tsunami survivors, 1,500 pair went to Louisiana Flood relief and 800 pair went to an orphanage in Kenya, Africa.

I've definitely got a bunch of running shoes which will end up at the shoe-mobile for recycling, how about you?

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!