– Friends of the Desert Mountains (Friends) (DesertMountains.org) just completed our “Shoe Us The Love” used/unwanted shoe drive to raise funds for desert conservation work. While we still await our final weight count, we collected 129 bags of 25 pairs of shoes – that’s 3, 225 pairs of shoes kept out of our local landfills! Thanks to Funds2Orgs, Friends will earn funds based on the total weight. Those dollars will benefit Friends daily operations, including our Free Public Hikes and our Youth Education programs.
“Coachella Valley’s commitment to sustainability shines through once again,” said Friends’ Marketing and Communication Manager Karin Jaffie. “When Funds2Orgs approached us with this idea, we really didn’t know what to expect but we believed in our community – and they did not disappoint! From the 17 locations that hosted our collection boxes and everyone who contributed shoes, to the volunteers who helped pick up and pair up the shoes, everyone invested heavily in making this collective effort a success! We connect to the land with our shoes; now we can share them with others in need while earning funds to steward the land.”
All donated shoes are redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise and small business partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. By donating gently worn, used and new shoes to the Friends, the shoes are given a second chance and make a difference in people’s lives around the world. Any footwear from “sandals to snow boots” with a little life in their sole were accepted.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING OUR COLLECTON BOXES!
· Desert Hot Springs Community Center
· Mizell Center
· Art Flying Aerial
· City of Cathedral City
· REI Co-Op Rancho Mirage
· Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
· Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce
· Desert Recreation District/Palm Desert Community Center & Portola Community Center
· First Tee of Coachella Valley
· Berger Foundation Building
· City of La Quinta
· La Quinta Wellness Center
· Rancho La Quinta
· The Place (Indio)
· Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
· SoCal Gas
About Friends
Friends of the Desert Mountains connects people to the land through conservation, education, and research. We also are the official non-profit partner of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. We engage all ages and abilities to reveal the wonders of the fragile desert and mountains we call home and instill an environmental awareness that we hope lasts a lifetime. Friends is a 501(c)3 supported by donations.
DesertMountains.org.
