YWCA of Greater Flint Looking for Gently Used Shoes

The YWCA of Greater Flint is looking for your old shoes during its month-long shoe drive.

MLive says the group is hosting the drive to raise funds for YWCA programs and services, as well as microenterprise ventures developing nations. The YWCA says their goal is 7,500 pairs of shoes and they can only do it if the community steps up to help.

Besides the drive benefiting YWCA programs such as SafeHouse Emergency Domestic Violence Shelter and Nina's Place Transitional Living Center, the shoes will also help some of the 630 million shoes thrown away each year out of landfills and prevent them from releasing hazardous chemicals during the decomposition process. Others will be redistributed to impoverished people in developing nations.

Gently used pairs of all types of shoes - men's, women's, children's, heel's, tennis and flip-flops - can be dropped off from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the YWCA at 310 E. Third Street on business days throughout April.