Walpole High School Student Kicks Off Charity Shoe Drive

WALPOLE, MA - Dylan Bent, an honors student at Walpole High School, decided to put his best foot forward by kicking off a shoe drive to help people who are living in poverty throughout the world.

The sophomore, who is on the cross country and track teams, stepped up to engage the community in donating their new or gently worn shoes and sneakers for him to ship to Soles4Souls, a Tennessee-based charity. He began reaching out to area Facebook sites and this week created a shoe drop-off box at the school.

"I was just thinking of a unique way to help people and involve the community," Bent said in an interview with Patch on Monday night, noting he researched several charities. "I found this organization, Soles4Soles, and I really took an interest in it. The shoes that we may have worn in school but that are still in good condition can help people in impoverished countries."

In addition to providing footwear to those who cannot afford it, Bent pointed out that this effort helps the environment by keeping them from ending up in landfills.

"We can recycle the shoes in a really great way," he said. "And I want to make an impact in people's lives."

The Sole4Souls website pointed out that people in developing countries can also sell the recycled shoes and clothing in order to start their own businesses. The unhoused and those who have experienced disasters both in the United States and around the world have benefited from these footwear and clothing donations. As of Tuesday, the total number of pairs of shoes and clothing items received is more than 73.3 million.

Bent said the response to his request has been incredible.

"I've received a few hundred pairs at least, and I have only been collecting them for a week or so," he noted. "I am really excited that people are so willing to donate."

When he initially started his effort, Bent said he had looked into another organization that requested worn shoes. But Soles4Souls turned out to be the perfect fit for his mission.

"For that one, you needed to collect a minimum of 250 pairs of shoes," Bent explained. "I thought that if I got 25, I would be lucky. But with Soles4Souls, you can send as many as you want, which I thought was perfect. I never expected to have such a great response."

"Shoe drives, like the one you mentioned, are the backbone of our mission," said Jamie Ellis, Soles4Souls vice president of marketing and communications. "At Soles4Souls, we turn unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use - providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty."

Ellis added that shoes that are collected from shoe drives go into our micro-enterprise program, which helps people in developing countries start and sustain businesses through selling shoes.

"This program also extends the life of shoes, keeping them out of landfills and protecting the planet," Ellis added. More information about the micro-enterprise program can be found at this link.

Bent added that people in Walpole and neighboring communities can contribute to his effort by dropping the shoes off at his address at 15 Carl Road in Walpole or at the Walpole High School drop-off box.

As many as 50 pounds at a time of shoes can be shipped for free, according to the non-profit's website.

His father, David Bent, said the drive will continue as long as there is momentum behind it.

"And as long as there is still room in the house," he said with a laugh.