His Hands Free Clinic in Cedar Rapids collected 24,127 pairs of shoes in their recent shoe drive, leaders said last week.
The shoe drive, held June 17-21, had a goal of topping the world record for most pairs of shoes collected, which stood at 250,000 pairs. But while the campaign fell short of its goal, leaders said the effort was still a success, and leaders recognized top campaign volunteers and donors with a post-drive celebration July 15.
“We knew it was a BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal), but we went for it, and the Cedar Rapids area joined us,” His Hands development director Dawn Brouwers said in a release. “I’d like to thank all the volunteers that helped pick up and sort shoes and the businesses that had boxes in their locations. We would have never collected and processed so many shoes without their help.
Ms. Brouwers estimated that 75 volunteers contributed 500 volunteer hours toward the shoe drive.
“Cedar Rapids has a great deal to be proud of,” Ms. Brouwers said. “We bested Phoenix, Arizona’s collection of 19,525 with a population 12 times larger than Cedar Rapids.”
Donna Kolbo, president of engagement and happiness at Funds2Orgs, said a radio station in Phoenix has been hosting a shoe collection drive over a weekend in July for the past five years. In 2023, they collected 19,525 pairs of shoes. Ms. Kolbo noted that other drives typically collect about 2,500 pairs in 60 days.
As a result of the His Hands shoe drive, more than 500 pairs of shoes were provided locally to Willis Dady Works, Mission of Hope, Catherine McCauley Center, St. Vincent de Paul, Metro Catholic Outreach, and flood victims in Rock Valley, Iowa, as well as low-income shoe makers across the world who now have the opportunity to grow their businesses.
“His Hands now has some new and additional funding to provide no cost health care to members of the community,” Ms. Brouwers said. “Plus, this event brought new donors and volunteers to the organization.”
Ms. Brouwers said His Hands will be receiving shoes at the clinic until a truck from Funds2Orgs comes Aug. 16, and said His Hands will be known as “the shoe collection people” for some time to come.
“I hope that will translate and be remembered that we really care about people, and not just their health,” Ms. Brouwers said.
