Annual Shoe Collection

Each year, with help from about 20 organizations (churches, businesses, schools, civic clubs, and more), we collect 5,500 to 6,500 pairs of shoes which are sent to developing countries.

WHEN to Drop Off Shoes

  • March 1 to May 31, 2025
  • …but we’ll accept and store them all year for our spring shoe drive!

WHAT Types of Shoes Are Accepted?

  • Any gently used or new shoes.
    • If you would loan them to a friend, we’ll take them.
  • Any size:
    • Children’s, men’s, women’s
  • Any style:
    • Slippers, work boots, high heels, flip flops, soccer cleats, etc.

WHERE to Drop Off Shoes

    • Our 2026 shoe drive will take place between Feb. 1 and April 30, 2026
    • During the ‘off-season’ you may bring shoes to our office at 1305 Augusta Rd, West Columbia and leave them on our porch.
    • If you’d like to serve as a public drop-off site Feb-April, please email programs@kmbsc.org or call (803) 733-1139.

WHY Participate?

  • Environmental Responsibility: These shoes are sent to developing countries to be reused and will be permanently kept out of our local landfills.
  • Social Impact: An estimated 300 million people do not own shoes. Shoe drives ensure low-cost access to footwear for all.​
  • Global Outreach: We work with Funds 2 Orgs which uses the shoes to provide inventory to over 4,000 micro-entrepreneurs who sell the shoes to support their families. ​
  • ​Fundraiser for Local Litter Prevention: Your donation helps Keep the Midlands Beautiful to raise approximately $3,000 each year which is used for our local litter prevention programs.​

HOW To Prepare Shoes for Drop-Off

Due to our small staff size, if possible, please prepare shoes as follows:

  • Remove shoes from boxes.
  • If shoes have laces, tie shoes together using shoelaces.
  • If we have provided you with rubber bands and bags,
    • Use rubber bands provided to band shoes together if they do NOT have shoe laces.
    • Place 25 pairs of shoes in each bag. Preferably mix men’s, children’s, and women’s shoes. (A bag of men’s shoes is VERY heavy and difficult for us to lift into the truck!)
    • If you have less than 25 pairs of shoes in a bag, you must staple a label to the bag that clearly states how many pairs of shoes are in the bag.
    • After bagging your paired shoes, tie the bags to prevent spillage.
    • Staple a label to the bags with your group name before dropping them off at our office, or having us pick them up, so that we credit you with the donation.
    • Do NOT use any other bags or rubber bands!!! Funds 2 Orgs requires that we use their supplies. We are happy to provide more as needed.