LIMERICK schools are encouraged to sign up to take part in a charity campaign that sees pre-loved shoes donated to children and adults in South African townships.
The Our Shoes campaign (formerly In Our Shoes) has returned this year and is encouraging parents and children across Limerick to donate their pre-loved shoes that no longer fit to the charity so they can get a new lease of life with someone who really needs them.
Last month, the charity, based in Sligo, donated 20,000 pairs of shoes to Cape Town in South Africa, for children in deprived townships.
Parents of children attending primary schools in Limerick are aksed to check if their school is registered to take part in the drive, and to encourage them to get involved if they’re not.
Our Shoes was set up by Ciarán McHugh, and stemmed from a business trip where Mr McHugh visited the Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, and saw children playing without shoes.
Last year’s project collected 20,000 shoes from over 350 schools all around Ireland, with the help of more than 100 volunteers to sort and pack the shoes into 500 specially made boxes.
In February this year, Mr McHugh again visited Cape Town and saw the shoes being delivered to the township.
“We are on a mission to collect as many pre-loved sports shoes as we can this year. They will be donated to those in need in the townships of Southern Africa,” he said.
“So dig out your old shoes, give them a new life and help make a difference to children, worlds away. With your support, we can continue our mission to provide comfort, dignity, and opportunity to those who need it most.”
Limerick schools who wish to register for the Our Shoes campaign can do so on the Our Shoes website (https://www.ourshoes.ie/registerschool).
