Old shoes have the chance to take another walk around the block this fall.

The Austin Area Learning Center is conducting a shoe collection drive on Sept. 15 through Dec. 15 to raise funds for MAAP Stars while benefiting microenterprise ventures in developing nations and keeping old shoes out of local landfills. Individuals can help by donating gently worn, used shoes at Austin High School.

In the United States alone, about 630 million pairs of shoes are thrown away per year. The materials used to manufacture a pair of shoes are created from chemical compounds that will create health hazards if left to disintegrate openly or in landfills. By donating gently worn, used shoes to the Austin ALC, your shoes are given a second chance to make a difference.

All donated shoes will be redistributed to microenterprise partners through Funds2Orgs and used in developing nations to give people the opportunity to feed, clothe, and house their families.

The goal is to collect 7,500 pairs of shoes. The only way to do that is if community members step up and help. Clean out unwanted, gently worn, used shoes and donate them.

For more information, contact Eliza Kelly by phone at 507-460-1800, or email eliza.kelly@austin.k12.mn.us.