Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission has launched its “Every Step Home” Shoe Drive to raise money for future housing, growth and expansion projects while providing shoes to families in need.
The fundraiser will continue throughout August and September. Jacob’s Place is collecting new, used and gently worn shoes of all kinds.
Donations may be placed in collection boxes at Jacob’s Place, the Searcy Police Department and Searcy Fire Department stations. Businesses, churches, schools and community organizations may also help by hosting their own collection boxes.
Jacob’s Place Executive Director Kevin Boyce discussed the organization’s mission and the shoe drive during an appearance on the ArkansasRadio.com Open Mic program.
Funds2Orgs will issue Jacob’s Place a check based on the total weight of the shoes collected. The money will support children and families currently staying at the shelter and families who will need housing services in the coming year.
Proceeds will also help Jacob’s Place continue working toward additional growth and expansion.
Boyce said Jacob’s Place expanded and doubled its capacity in 2021. However, the need for emergency family housing has continued to grow and has surpassed the organization’s current ability to accommodate every family seeking assistance.
Boyce said the shoe drive will help move Jacob’s Place closer to its goal of another expansion.
Jacob’s Place has served families experiencing homelessness since 2011. The organization assists adults who have legal custody of children and works to help families move from homelessness toward permanent housing and long-term stability.
The program provides shelter, food, water, safety, educational assistance, career opportunities, budgeting classes and other resources to help families overcome homelessness.
Jacob’s Place also works to eliminate barriers that can prevent residents from entering the workforce. Those barriers can include transportation, driver’s licenses, uniforms, work boots and appropriate shoes.
Boyce said Jacob’s Place has served people from many professional backgrounds, including teachers, nurses, certified nursing assistants and eye care technicians. Job losses, layoffs, injuries, deaths in the family and other unexpected events can quickly place working families in financial crisis.
During the Open Mic interview, Boyce cited a United Way survey indicating that 51% of White County families live paycheck to paycheck. Missing one paycheck can begin a cycle of accumulating bills that may eventually leave a family without stable housing.
Jacob’s Place partners with community organizations to provide budgeting classes, literacy assistance, reading comprehension, driver’s license preparation, job-interview skills and workplace-readiness training.
Donated shoes will support those efforts by providing appropriate footwear for adults entering the workforce and children returning to school.
Community Outreach Coordinator Emily Gairhan Boyd said many people have extra shoes in their closets that they no longer use. Donating those shoes will help Jacob’s Place raise money for food, shelter and opportunities for families to begin again.
Boyd said the collection will also benefit families in developing countries who need economic opportunities.
Shoes collected through the drive will be redistributed through the Funds2Orgs network of microenterprise partners. Funds2Orgs works with small-business owners in developing countries, helping them create, maintain and grow businesses in areas where jobs and economic opportunities are limited.
Proceeds from the resale of donated shoes can help microentrepreneurs provide food, clothing, housing and education for their families.
By donating shoes, residents can give unwanted footwear a second chance while helping people in White County and communities around the world.
The drive is accepting work boots, sneakers, athletic shoes, dress shoes, high heels, sandals, flip-flops, house shoes and other wearable footwear.
Shoes should have usable life remaining. Donations should not have holes, detached soles, mold or strong odors. Socks are not being collected.
The Every Step Home Shoe Drive will continue through September.
For more information or to host a collection box, call Jacob’s Place at 501-380-8283 or email office@jacobsplace.org.
DROP-OFF LOCATIONS
Jacob’s Place Homeless Mission in Searcy
Searcy Police Department
Searcy Fire Department stations
Community collection boxes hosted by participating organizations
ACCEPTED DONATIONS
New shoes
Gently worn shoes
Used shoes with usable life remaining
Work boots
Sneakers
Athletic shoes
Dress shoes
High heels
Sandals
Flip-flops
House shoes
Other wearable footwear
DONATION REQUIREMENTS
Shoes should have usable life remaining.
Shoes should not have holes.
Soles should not be detached or separating.
Shoes should be clean and free from mold and strong odors.
Socks are not being collected.
HOW THE FUNDRAISER WORKS
Jacob’s Place collects new, used and gently worn shoes.
Funds2Orgs pays Jacob’s Place based on the total weight of the shoes collected.
Money raised supports families currently staying at Jacob’s Place, future families needing shelter and planned growth and expansion projects.
Collected shoes are redistributed through Funds2Orgs microenterprise partners.
Small-business owners in developing countries can resell the shoes to support their families and communities.
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