Shoe 4 Africa: Shoe Recycling Programs that Save Lives
March 29, 2008 | Comments Off
The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program was born in 1995 when professional runner Toby Tanser was training and living in Africa. Toby observed that serious runners in Kenya owned no adequate running shoes. He, however, was sponsored by a major sportswear company that continually equipped him with leading-edge gear.
Toby donated his used running shoes to Kenyan runners instead of merely throwing them away. And an amazing thing began to happen: The runners wearing donated running shoes began winning medals at big races and breaking records. Toby realized that just one pair of donated used running shoes could totally change a runner’s life—and Shoe 4 Africa was launched.
Shoe 4 Africa has evolved beyond shipping donated used running shoes to Africa. The organization also works on Empowerment, Health and Aids Awareness in Africa.
Although Africa represents only 10 percent of the world’s population, a full 83 percent of AIDS-related deaths worldwide occur in Africa. The average life expectancy of a Kenya resident is only 48 years, and it’s less than 40 years for a Swaziland resident. HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in Africa.
What’s worse, AIDS awareness in Africa is sorely lacking. For example, the Kalenjin tribe in Kenya, home to most of Kenya’s best runners, previously had zero AIDS awareness information in its native language. But the Shoe 4 Africa shoe recycling program changed all that and distributed a pamphlet in the native tongue.
Shoe 4 Africa also distributes donated used running shoes at races in Africa. Donated used running shoes are raffled off to race participants and even awarded as prizes to race winners. Running is the most celebrated sport in Africa, with most of the world’s topmost distance runners coming from this continent. The Shoe 4 Africa races attract entire communities; the response has been overwhelming, with record-breaking attendance in Kenya, Morocco and Tanzania. The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program also sponsors several running teams, a running training camp and even a soccer team.
The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program also provides on-site AIDS testing at its popular races. At one race, a full one-fourth of an entire village lined up for AIDS testing! The races also serve as a platform for many of Africa’s biggest running stars to speak out about AIDS.
The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program also empowers women by hosting women-only events. In the beginning, races were co-ed, but few women were entering because their husbands told them to stay at home. For example, in one village, 126 men and only four women entered a race. But the women voiced their desire to join a race. The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program heard their call, held a women-only event—and 2,900 women entered! The Shoe 4 Africa running shoe recycling program also provides full scholarships for young female runners.
To learn more about how you can donate used running shoes to Shoe 4 Africa, visit their website at www.shoe4africa.org.
Finger Lakes Running Club Announces Race and Running Shoe Recycling Events for Late 2008
March 23, 2008 | Comments Off
The Finger Lakes Running Club in upstate New York is sponsoring several races from July through October. At each race, the club also offers on-site running shoe recycling. That’s great news for runners in the New York area who are looking for late 2008 events—as well as a place to donate used running shoes! The late 2008 Finger Lakes Running Club race schedule is as follows:
- Saturday, July 5, 6:30 a.m.: Finger Lakes Fifties Trail Runs; 25K, 50K and 50 mile; Finger Lakes National Forest, Hector, NY; race and on-site running shoe recycling
- July Outdoor Track Meet, 6 p.m., location to be announced: Activities varied; on-site running shoe recycling program available
- Thursday, July 10, 6:30 p.m.: Women’s Distance Festival; 5K; Dryden Lake Park, Dryden, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Sunday, July 20, 9 a.m.: Forest Frolic Trail Runs; 7K, 15K, Virgil State Forest, Virgil, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Thursday, July 24, 6 p.m.: Forge the Gorgeous Trail Runs; 7 mile; Fillmore Glen State Park, Moravia, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Saturday, July 26, 9 a.m.: Fillmore 5K; Moravia School track, Moravia, NY; race and on-site running shoe recycling program
- August Outdoor Track Meet, 6 p.m., location to be announced: varied activities; running shoe recycling available
- Sunday, August 10, 10:30 a.m.: Finger Lakes Running Club 40th Anniversary Event; 12K and 30K; Dryden Lake Park, Dryden, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Sunday, August 17, 8:30 a.m.: Virgil Mountain Madness Trail Runs; 12K and 30K; Virgil State Forest, Virgil, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Sunday, August 31, 7 a.m.: Monster Marathon and Half Marathon Trail Runs, 13.1 mile, 26.2 mile; Virgil State Forest, Virgil, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Sunday, September 14, 9 a.m.: Ithaca 5 & 10; 5-mile and 10-mile; Ithaca High School, Ithaca, NY; race and running shoe recycling
- Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22, 9 a.m.: Iroquois Trail 100; 100-mile; Finger Lakes National Forest; race and running shoe recycling
- Sunday, October 12, 9 a.m.: Danby Down & Dirty Trail Runs; 10K and 20K; Abbott Loop, Danby, NY; race and running shoe recycling
At these events, any donated used running shoes that are still wearable will be donated to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center. Donated used running shoes that can no longer be worn will be given to the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division.
Tompkins County and Monroe County ship used running shoes to Nike’s ReUse A Shoe recycling program. With this running shoe recycling program, donated running shoes are ground into a material called Nike Grind. Nike Grind created from donated running shoes is then used to fashion new running tracks, athletic fields, playground surfaces and indoor courts in communities throughout the U.S.
Please note that donated used running shoes with any type of metal cannot be accepted; that includes eyelets, zippers, cleats or spikes. Also, this shoe recycling program is unable to accept any other type of shoes.
For more information about these races with running shoe recycling collection, contact Diane Yates at dry2@cornell.edu.
2008 Chicagoland Shoe Recycling Program to be Held May 7 and 8
March 11, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you’re a Chicago-area runner looking for a place to donate used running shoes, make tracks to the Shoe Recycling Program of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County on Wednesday, May 7, and Thursday, May 8. The eighth annual shoe recycling program will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Glenview transfer station.
Approximately 60 collection partners will participate in the 2008 Shoe Recycling Program, including schools, community organizations, businesses and numerous SWANCC municipalities.
If your business, organization or school would like to participate as a collection partner in the 2008 Shoe Recycling Program, please contact Mary Allen at mary@swancc.org or 847.724.9205, extension 204. Donated used running shoe collection details, clear plastic bags, promotional materials and an agreement will be mailed to your site coordinator. The agreement must be signed and returned.
The Shoe Recycling Program of the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County has been orchestrating a shoe recycling program for donated used running shoes since 1999.
Donated running shoes collected by the Shoe Recycling Program over the course of two days are shipped to a Nike facility in conjunction with the Nike Reuse A Shoe recycling program. Nike then transforms the donated used running shoes into a material called Nike Grind. Nike Grind from donated running shoes is then used to create running tracks, playground surfaces, athletic fields and indoor courts that children from all walks of life can enjoy throughout many communities for years to come.
Random drawings will take place at the Shoe Recycling Program event; winners will receive a plastic chair shaped like a hand. All schools registered for the Shoe Recycling Program are eligible to win.
It’s important to note these guidelines to donate used running shoes to the Shoe Recycling Program:
- Shoes with metal components of any kind cannot be accepted at the Shoe Recycling Program; this includes cleats, spikes, eyelets, zippers or batteries
- No other types of shoes can be accepted at the Shoe Recycling Program; this includes flip flops, sandals, boots, dress shoes, high heels, pumps, clogs, mules, slip-ons or house slippers
- Please do not tie donated used running shoe laces together, or bind donated used running shoes together with rubber bands, plastic straps or string
For more information regarding the Shoe Recycling Program, contact the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, 1616 East Golf Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016; 847.296.9205; e-mail mary@swancc.org or visit the web site address at www.swancc.org/education/athleticshoerecycling.html.
A few other Chicagoland area sites accept a limited number of donated used running shoes in conjunction with Nike’s Reuse A Shoe program. You can also mail your donated used running shoes directly to Nike. See www.nikereuseashoe.com for more details.
International Shoe Recycling Programs
March 7, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Who knew that you could change the world when you donate used running shoes? Not only will you be practicing the environmentally friendly mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” but you can improve the lives of others across the globe when you donate used running shoes.
There are several international organizations featuring shoe recycling programs. Some donated used running shoes are given to sports teams, and some are given to needy children. Following are several organizations offering shoe recycling programs:
One World Running shoe recycling program, formerly Shoes for Africa: P.O. Box 2223, Boulder, CO 80306; 303. 473.1318; see the website address www.oneworldrunning.blogspot.com. Donated used running shoes are distributed to African national athletic teams.
Shoe Recycle Program, TeamBarrios: 16199 East 48th Avenue, #2521, Denver, CO 80239. Donated used running shoes are distributed to the less fortunate throughout Mexico.
Shoe 4 Africa: C/O Monicah Kiplagat, PO Box 6943, Eldoret, Kenya. Please note that donated used running shoes must be sent via Air Mail. USPS has shown to be the most efficient and cost-effective method. Donated used running shoes are distributed to amateur and professional runners. Shoe 4 Africa also undertakes HIV/AIDS education and prevention; HIV/AIDS has reached epidemic proportions in Africa.
Up and Running: The UK’s largest independent specialist running retailer; phone +44 (0)1423 562162; enquiries@runningshoes.co.uk or www.upandrunning.co.uk. Donated used running shoes are distributed to Variety Club, a children’s charity.
Oakengates Shoe Banks: Oakengates, United Kingdom; phone: 01952 202547; robin.mager@wrekin.gov.uk; www.oakengates.com. Donated used running shoes are distributed to various charities.
Not only will you have a clean conscience when you donate used running shoes, but you can choose an international shoe recycling program that addresses issues near and dear to your heart.
One World Running Offers Running Shoe Recycling
March 4, 2008 | Leave a Comment
One World Running is an international organization that donates used running shoes to needy individuals in the U.S. and across the globe. In addition to running shoe recycling, One World Running also promotes awareness of health, fitness and nutrition. The organization also sponsors 5K walks and runs as part of this awareness initiative; the events also are designed to generally foster goodwill and understanding amongst people.
This innovative running shoe recycling group was masterminded by a small group of runners in 1986 in Boulder, Colorado. Since then, the group has collected, washed and shipped countless donated used running shoes, t-shirts and shorts to Third World countries. Besides donated used running shoes and clothing, One World Running also ships medicine, school supplies and art supplies.
The idea for the running shoe recycling organization was born when sports journalist Mike Sandrock returned from a racing and coaching trip in Cameroon, West Africa. Many of the Cameroon runners ran barefoot. And although they didn’t even have donated used running shoes to wear, many of them beat Mike! Mike, along with other elite runners from Boulder–including Lorraine Moller, Steve Jones and Arturio Barrios–then began shipping donated used running shoes to Africa.
The running shoe recycling efforts expanded to include additional runners, who ship clothing and donated used running shoes to needy athletes and children throughout the world. Athletic equipment has also been added to shipments of donated used running shoes and clothing; this includes soccer cleats and baseball equipment. One World Running is powered completely by 100 percent volunteer fuel.
One World Running began an annual fundraiser in 2001 for the Shoes 4 Africa shoe recycling program. The West End 3K criterium road race in downtown Boulder raises much-needed funds for this important shoe recycling program. Each $195 raised will send approximately 50 pairs of donated used running shoes to sub-Saharan Africa, or approximately 100 pairs of donated used running shoes to Haiti or Central America.
Community Plaza Laundromat in Boulder provides the free service of washing donated used running shoes. If you want to wash your donated used running shoes yourself, that’s fine; just remember to wash them in cold water and air dry them. Using the dryer is likely to melt the glue in the running shoes!
Here are locations where you can drop off or ship donated used running shoes for One World Running:
* Daily Camera Newspaper, Attn: sports department, 1048 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302
* Fleet Feet Sports, 2624 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80302; 303.939.8000
* Bolder Boulder, 5500 Central Ave., Suite #110, Boulder, CO 80301
* Richmond, Virgina area: see www.RunRichmond.com
* Runner’s Den, 361 Main St., Port Dover, Ontario, Canada.
Most donated used running shoes come from individuals, running clubs or organizations such as Girl Scout troops that hold donated used running shoe drives. Any brand-new or near-new shoes are shipped. Any shoes not suitable for shipping are sent to Nike’s Reuse A Shoe program to be ground into material that’s used for running tracks and playgrounds.
For more information about One World Running’s shoe recycling program, call 303.473.1314; 720.304.2878; or e-mail anaweir@yahoo.com or sandrock@boulderrunning.com.
New York Shoe Recycling Program Turns Tennies into Tracks
February 22, 2008 | Leave a Comment
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program has been accepting used running shoe donations since January 2006. This shoe recycling program donates used running shoes to the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division.
Tompkins County, in conjunction with Monroe County, participates in Nike’s ReUse A Shoe recycling program. Worn out donated running shoes are then transported to a Nike facility. Once there, the shoe recycling program grinds the donated running shoes into a material that’s called Nike Grind. Nike Grind from donated running shoes is then used to create running tracks, playground surfaces, athletic fields and indoor courts in disadvantaged communities.
If donated running shoes are still in wearable condition, the Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program donates them to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center.
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program accepts donated running shoes at the following locations:
Tompkins County Solid Waste Division
Any scheduled running races sponsored by the Finger Lakes Running Club
Finger Lakes Running Company, 138 West State Street, Ithaca, NY, 14850; You can contact customerservice@fingerlakesrunningcompany.com; or 607.275.3572
The Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program can only accept athletic shoes. Please note, however, that shoes with cleats, spikes or that contain any metal cannot be accepted. Also, this shoe recycling program is unable to accept any other type of shoe, such as sandals, flip flops, boots, high heels, pumps or dress shoes.
For more information regarding the Finger Lakes Running Club shoe recycling program, contact Diane Yates at dry2@cornell.edu.
Early 2008 New York Races Offer Running Shoe Recycling Opportunities
February 15, 2008 | Comments Off
If you’re running any races in New York in 2008, you’ll have the opportunity to donate used running shoes. Specifically, any races sponsored by the Finger Lakes Running Club will provide on-site running shoe recycling. Here’s the Finger Lakes Running Club 2008 race and running shoe recycling event calendar for the first half of the year:
Saturday, March 15, 9 a.m.: March Indoor Track Meet and Family Fun Day, Ithaca, NY; various activities; running shoe recycling offered
Sunday, April 6, 10 a.m.: Ithaca Skunk Cabbage Classic Runs, 10K and half-marathon, Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m.: Thom Bugliosi Trail Runs, 13K and 26K, Hammond Hill Hammond Hill State Forest, Dryden, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Sunday, May 18, 8:30 a.m.: Highland Forest 1-2-3; 10- 20- and 30-mile; Highland Forest Park, Fabius, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 24, 9 a.m.: Rec-Way 10K and Family Fun Runs, Ithaca, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m.: Tortoise and Hare Trail Run, 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run, Buttermilk Falls State Park, Ithaca, NY; race and running shoe recycling
June Outdoor Track Meet, 6 p.m.: Date and location to be announced. Varied activities; on-site running shoe recycling
Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m.: Tanglefoot Trail Runs, 5- and 10-mile. Tanglewood Nature Center, Elmira, NY; race and running shoe recycling
Please note that the Ithaca Twilight 5K and on-site running shoe recycling event, normally held at Ithaca high school, has been cancelled; no track access is available this year.
Donated used running shoes that are still in wearable condition will be donated to the Greater Ithaca Activities Center for the less fortunate. Donated used running shoes that can no longer be worn will be given to the Tompkins County Solid Waste Division.
Tompkins County, along with nearby Monroe County, donates used running shoes to Nike’s ReUse A Shoe recycling program. With this running shoe recycling program, donated running shoes are shipped to a Nike facility, where they’re ground into a material referred to as Nike Grind. Nike Grind created from donated running shoes is then recycled into new athletic fields, running tracks, playground surfaces and indoor courts in underprivileged communities throughout the U.S.
Please note that the shoe recycling program cannot accept any donated used running shoes with any type of metal; that includes eyelets, zippers, cleats or spikes. Also, this shoe recycling program is unable to accept any other type of shoe, including sandals, flip flops, boots, dress shoes or high heels.
Life is good when you practice the three R’s: running, racing and recycling!
For more information about these upstate New York races with on-site running shoe recycling available, contact Diane Yates at dry2@cornell.edu.
Donate Your Used Running Shoes
February 9, 2008 | Comments Off
As runners, we go through a lot of running shoes. If we simply throw them in the trash, that stacks up to a lot of garbage reaching our landfills and solid waste incinerators every year. And the more garbage that’s in our landfills and incinerators, the more polluted our groundwater and air becomes. And if we’re drinking tainted water and breathing toxic air, it does nothing for our marathon time! So why not donate used running shoes?
When you donate used running shoes, you help the environment, you help yourself—and you can even help others! There are many organizations in the U.S. where you can donate used running shoes.
When you donate used running shoes, you can help put shoes on the feet of the poor and the homeless. Here’s just a sample of U.S. organizations where you can donate used running shoes:
Little Rock Roadrunners Club: donates used running shoes to schools and the homeless
P.O. Box 250229
Hillcrest Station
Little Rock, AR 72225
littlerockroadrunners@yahoo.com
Arizona Road Racers: donates used running shoes to coaches of underprivileged student athletes
P. O. Box 37876
Phoenix, AZ 85069-7876
(602) 954-8341
World Shoe Relief: donates used running shoes to poor and homeless
Post office box 423
Trabuco Canyon, CA 92678
Running Wild: donates used running shoes to youths in need through the local Johnson and Linn county agencies
1801 2nd Street
Clock Tower Plaza
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 351-3602
Central Florida Gliders Running Shoe Recycle Program: donates used running shoes to youth runners in Kenya
www.cfgliders.com
coachwise@hotmail.com
First Christian Church of Jacksonville, Florida: donates used running shoes to the poor of Haiti
fcc@csj.net
Helping Hands Shoe Bank: donates used running shoes to poor in the U.S. and in other nations
c/o Michael Barringer
Post Office Box 91
Rockwall, TX 75087
(972) 771-7658
www.shoebank.org
michaelbarringer@sbcglobal.net
Donate your used running shoes, and reap the benefits of protecting the environment, helping the less fortunate, and having a squeaky clean conscience! When you donate used running shoes, you’ll breathe—and rest—a little easier!
Thanks GreenMomFinds.com & TrailRunningGirl.com
January 19, 2008 | Leave a Comment
We would like to thank the moms of Green Mom Finds for their support. RecycledRunners.com was recently featured in a post fittingly titled, Wanted: Your Stinky Old Sneakers.
GreenMomFinds.com brings you the best in safer, eco-friendly alternatives for you and your family. Check their site daily for new products, tips, resources, and some great giveaways!
Also, we owe a huge shout out to Jessica over at www.trailrunninggirl.com. She continues to be an inspiration to all of us runners. You Rock!
Green, Greener, Greenest in 2008
January 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment
New Year’s resolutions are usually personal in nature and are more often than not broken promptly. Perhaps resolutions to help our environment would be easier to make and more importantly, easier to keep. The following are categorized by topic and rated for difficulty.
- Save Your Energy
* Green: Replace worn out incandescent light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Lights. CFLs use 75% less energy than conventional light bulbs and are widely available. * Greener: Install motion detecting lights and buy a water heater blanket. These simple steps will reduce your energy consumption and save you money on your energy bills. * Greenest: Conduct an energy audit of your home. Then repair leaks and faulty insulation. To learn more visit www.eere.enery.gov/consumer. - Detox Your Home
* Green: Keep live plants in your home to naturally filter the air. * Greener: Replace your cleaning supplies with biodegradable, non-toxic alternatives. Eco-friendly cleaning products are available at health food stores and many grovers. * Greenest: Switch to low VOC paints for all home renovation products. Conventional paints emit low levels of toxic chemicals for years after application. - Eat Better
* Green: Buy organic and fair trade prodcts. * Greener: Buy local at your neighborhood farmer’s market. 8 Greenest:Volunteer at a neighborhood garden project. - Travel Smart
* Green: Bike or walk when distance and weather permits. *Greener: Offset your carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits from companies like TerraPass. *Greenest: Rather than owning a car, join a car-sharing network. - Save and Re-Save
*Green: Replace bottled water with reusable water bottle. *Greener: Recycle old electronics, paints, household chemicals, batteries and clothes (such as running shoes). *Greenest: Initiate recycling programs in your community and office. www.afreshsqueeze.com
