Brooklyn Park Woman Collects Thousands of Used Shoes For Charity

A Brooklyn Park woman says a single pair of shoes can give someone a life-changing opportunity.

In the last four years, Mary Brooks participated in a driver held by retailer Brighton Collectibles to collect thousands of used shoes for nonprofit Soles4Souls. 

Soles4Souls distribute shoes around the world to people in poverty. These people will sell the shoes as a business in hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty. 

According to Soles5Souls, 100 pairs of shoes will provide one month of food, education and shelter for countries like Haiti and Honduras. 

Brooks is on track to collect 10,000 shoes overall. This year alone, she’s gathered 1,500 shoes. 

“I like to help people that are in need, I feel like I’ve been on lots of mission trips and see people that are suffering,” said Brooks. “We just throw these shoes away and they’re sit in a landfill, why not donate them and see them do some good?” 

You can donate your gently-used shoes to the Brighton Collectibles locations at Mall of America, Southdale Center and Rosedale Center.  Note, these malls are temporarily closed due to the governor’s stay-at-home order. Check for drop-off locations here: https://www.soles4souls.org/give-shoes/

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