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

If you’d like to serve as a public drop-off site, please email programs@kmbsc.org or call (803) 733-1139.

  • West Columbia – Keep the Midlands Beautiful Office
    • 1305 Augusta Road, West Columbia, SC 29169
    • Place shoes in labeled dark green bins on the porch.
  • Batesburg-Leesville Town Hall (outside)
    • 120 W. Church St., Batesburg-Leesville, 29006
  • Lexington Chamber and Visitor’s Center (outside)
    • 311 W. Main St., Lexington, SC 29072
  • Forest Acres – Police Department
    • 5205 Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206
  • Forest Acres – Forest Lake Presbyterian Church (April Only)
    • 6500 N. Trenholm Rd., Columbia, SC 29206
  • Irmo – Town Hall (outside)
    • 7300 Woodrow St., Irmo, 29063
  • Irmo – Dutch Fork Elementary
    • 7900 Broad River Rd., Irmo, 29063
  • Irmo – Sharing God’s Love
    • 147 Friarsgate Blvd., Irmo, 29063

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.