Those old penny loafers might be worth a pretty penny to ACARF. Same goes for those sneakers, hiking boots, heels and other assorted footware.
The Allen County Animal Rescue Facility has launched a two-month shoe drive, with the hopes of raising funds to add outdoor exercise pens at the LaHarpe-based shelter.
As ACARF director Janice Porter explains, the shelter will earn funds based on the number of pairs of shoes collected through Funds2Orgs, an international organization that helps impoverished people start, maintain and grow businesses in third-world countries.
“We estimate that for every 25 pairs of shoes we collect, that’s enough to feed one dog for a week,” Porter said.
No, the dogs don’t actually feast on the shoes.
Rather, they’re “sold” to Funds2Orgs, and then donated to the young entrepreneurs.
The styles of footware doesn’t matter.
“It just has to be a pair of shoes you think somebody would want to buy,” Porter said.
The shoes can be donated at ACARF on the east edge of LaHarpe, or at ACARF’s Second Chance thrift store at 209 South St. in Iola.
In addition, volunteers have set up a number of “pickup days” in Humboldt, Moran and Yates Center, starting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Orscheln Farm and Home in Iola.
Other pickups:
— April 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., north of Chancy’s Grill and Shake in Moran.
— April 17, 1-5 p.m., Iola Walmart.
— April 23, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at the intersection of U.S. 54 and U.S. 75 in Yates Center.
— May 1, 1-5 p.m., Jump Start Travel Center, 1700 East St. in Iola.
