06-05-2025
United Way's Heel & Soul shoe drive
VESTAL, NY (WIVT/WBGH) – We're on the cusp of back-to-school shopping, and a local non-profit is taking donations of shoes to make sure every student has a new pair.
The United Way of Broome County is hosting its second year of the Heel and Soul Project.
The charitable arm of Auchinachie Services, called Auchinachie Cares, donated one thousand dollars to the project to help purchase pairs of shoes.
Now through July 25th, you can donate at the United Way's facility on Jensen Road in Vestal, or at one of the twenty drop off sites.
Executive Director Paula Perna is hoping to raise over one-thousand pairs of shoes this year.
'Last year, we distributed probably 320 pairs of sneakers. The line was very long and a lot of people had to be turned away. So, we want more shoes this year, more sneakers this year. We're going to be distributing them in early August before the start of the school year,' says Perna.
The United Way asks that the pairs of shoes are brand new, ideally sneakers or boots.
They're looking for a wide range of sizes, to accommodate students 18 years and younger.
For a list of drop off locations, go here.
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