The Edison Animal Shelter wants to turn old shoes into money to help dogs and cats with the community's help.
EDISON -- The Edison Animal Shelter has decided to use a new approach to raise money for animal care and improvements--soliciting donations of gently worn or new shoes or boots.
The shoes and boots will be collected at the shelter and, based on the number of pairs collected, the shelter will earn money from Funds2Orgs, a Florida-based social enterprise network that buys donated shoes, according to Kirsten Arcell, the shelter manager.
Working with partners, Funds2Orgs repairs, cleans and resells their stocks of shoes and uses the proceeds to provide food, clothing and housing to impoverished people in Haiti, Honduras and 25 other developing nations in Central America and Africa, Arcell said.
The shoes and boots can be dropped off at the animal shelter at 125 Municipal Blvd., across from the Edison Municipal Complex.
"Most families have pairs of shoes they no longer use in their closets. We are sure most people would prefer to give them away, rather then throw them away," Karen Giermanski said.
"We are confident this will be especially true once families realize their shoe donations are going to benefit less-fortunate families, and improve Edison's ability to care for adoptable pets in our community," she said.
Arcell said interior painting has been done at the shelter and upcoming improvements would include exterior painting, new flooring and dog kennel renovations.
http://www.nj.com/middlesex/index.ssf/2016/03/bulldog_mix_needs_home_of_his_own.html
The shelter handled 1,030 animals in 2015, including spaying and neutering services for 400 cats. With assistance from a local PetSmart, the shelter found new homes for 213 cats and 89 dogs last year, she said.
"The support we receive from our community and our volunteers is very heartwarming," Arcell said. "So, I'm sure they will help make our shoe donation drive a success."
Sue Epstein may be reached at sepstein@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @susan_epstein. Find NJ.com on Facebook.