Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club is joining a long-standing shoe drive this month, helping collect gently used footwear for communities in need across the globe. The initiative, called Soles4Souls, is a partnership among several Rotary clubs, with the Northport Rotary Club leading the effort.
Marc Rigueur, treasurer of the Freeport-Merrick Rotary, said the club has participated in the drive for the past five to six years, assisting with collections and local outreach.
“A lot of people have shoes they don’t need,” Rigueur said. “Instead of throwing them away, they can go to a charitable organization where they’ll be put to good use.”
Collection boxes are set up through March 28 at CYBS Accountants and tax Specialists at 147 W. Merrick Road in Freeport and Sacred Heart Church, 115-50 221st Street in Cambria Heights, allowing community members to drop off new or gently used shoes. Last year, the club collected roughly 500 pairs of shoes, and organizers are aiming to surpass that number this year.
Soles4Souls was brought to Northport by Anita and Bill Thomas. Anita, affectionately known as “The Shoe Lady,” discovered the Tennessee-based organization after her retirement in 2008. The nonprofit collects shoes from local drives and distributes them to areas affected by poverty or natural disasters. Shoes are either given directly to those in need or purchased by micro-entrepreneurs, who repair and sell them to support their families.
Andrew Giffin, secretary of the Northport Rotary Club, explained how the initiative has grown over the years.
“The first year, we collected 500 pairs at a Gold’s Gym in East Northport,” Giffin said. “By 2018, we were collecting over 21,000 pairs in a single drive.”
Following the deaths of Bill and Anita Thomas in 2020, Rotary members have continued their legacy, maintaining large-scale collections each year. The program has expanded to include clubs in East Northport, Brentwood, Rocky Point, South Queens, and now Freeport-Merrick, bringing together seven or eight clubs in total.
Rigueur said the shoe drive aligns with the Rotary’s mission of service both locally and globally.
“It’s a good way for people to connect with our club, learn about the good work we’re doing, and participate in helping others,” he said.
Residents are encouraged to donate shoes at any of the designated collection points through the end of March. The program not only provides footwear for those in need but also helps raise awareness of community service and the ongoing work of local Rotary clubs.
For more information, community members can contact the Freeport-Merrick Rotary Club or visit participating locations.
