Treehouse Summer School Camp, Shoeman Water Projects Want Your Shoes

Cookies and lemonade seem like a fair trade-off for your shoes today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the covered drive entrance of St. Paul United Church of Christ on Telegraph.

The Treehouse Summer School Camp at the church is hosting a shoe drive to benefit Shoeman Water Projects. The not-for-profit organization turns donated shoes into affordable shoes for those in need, and also buys clean water-drilling rigs for impoverished countries.

“There are so many places we’ve identified in Kenya, Haiti and other places that need our help,” said George "The Shoeman" Hutchings, the founder of Shoeman Water Projects, in a statement.

Treehouse’s goal is to collect 2,011 pairs of shoes by 4 p.m., and in return, patrons will receive cookies and lemonade (while supplies last) as a thank you for their donations. Shoeman and Treehouse encourage donations of pairs of used and new shoes, tied together. Shoes should have no rips or holes.

Julie Droney, a teacher at Treehouse Preschool, said that it is not just about collecting shoes—it’s a duel benefit.

“We collect the shoes because they are sold to the countries that need shoes. People have to walk long distances to get to their water and they were getting sick and hurt (due to cuts and parasites) just to get clean water,” she said. 

Once collected, the Shoeman sells the shoes to exporters in South America, Haiti, India, Kenya and other places where people need affordable shoes. The shoes are then sold for pennies on the dollar or traded. The proceeds from the shoes are then used to drill for clean water, install water purification systems and to provide water training.

“The shoes are for those who don’t have a well yet, so they can walk safely to water,” Droney said. “(The pennies on the dollar) provides clean water through the drilling rigs.”

In its third year of partnering with the Shoeman—the first two years were a car wash program—Treehouse also collects shoes throughout the school year.

“We have a big shoe sign that we will fill in as we reach our goal,” Droney said.