With the help of the Coast Guard and local volunteers, the Community Center’s Shoes With Heart fundraiser came to an overwhelming finish on Tuesday, June 18 when 2,242 shoes were loaded onto a truck bound for Florida.

The fundraiser was the idea of Community Center secretary Jen Field and began on Nov. 5, 2018. Shoes were collected by Southport and Boothbay schools, St. Andrews Village, Boothbay Harbor Rotary, Our Lady Queen of Peace, the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor, and Creature Comforts and St. Andrews thrift shops.

Kathy and Mike Loewe stored the 90 bags of shoes in their basement and were joined by volunteer Richard Christopher and members of the local Coast Guard station who helped load the truck. The unique way to raise funds is run by Funds2orgs, based in Florida, which helps people and organizations raise money by collecting new and gently worn shoes.

After shoes are collected, the Community Center is paid 40 cents for every pound. After processing, the shoes go to developing nations so that micro-entrepreneurs (typically family businesses) can sell the shoes to create an income for their families. The program helps families survive in 25 countries like Haiti, Uganda and India.

Field said, “We are so excited to see this all come to completion and thank everyone who gave their time, energy and shoes.”