Did you know that more than 600 million people worldwide don’t own a single pair of shoes? The good news is that your old sneakers, along with old sneakers from your friends and family, can be cleaned up and reused by someone who would love to have them.
To help you collect the most sneakers for your fundraiser drive with GotSneakers we’ve put together a few tips to help you spread the word. Once you sign up you’ll also receive a Fundraiser Kit that includes flyers, social media graphics, collection bags and more!
1. Educate Your Contacts
Social media is a great way to reach out to your friends, family, colleagues and even customers for sneaker donations. You’ll just want to clearly explain that you’re hosting a sneaker drive and why you’re doing it.
In your GotSneakers Fundraiser Kit we’ve included some pictures you can post along with suggested captions – but feel free to write your own! You know what your friends and colleagues will respond to best.
We recommend sharing statistics about how recycling old sneakers can keep them out of landfills where they can take up to 40 years to decompose, while also providing footwear to the more than 600 million people who need sneakers!
2. Engage with Emotions
As you write posts and updates, think about what messages will resonate best with your friends and colleagues.
Are they motivated by the environmental impact of their choices, or are they more likely to give when they learn going without shoes can prevent some children from being able to enroll in school?
Find out what motivates them and craft your posts with these emotions in mind.
Also remind your friends and colleagues how sneakers are often taken for granted in the U.S. but can make a huge difference in the lives of people in other countries. New sneakers are often completely unaffordable in these communities so used shoes that have been cleaned up can make all the difference.
3. Make Giving Easier
When people feel motivated to give after reading your posts, they need to know exactly where to send or drop off old sneakers.
Make sure your social media posts are clear about where and how you are collecting sneakers.
List your drop off location(s) or share when you’ll be able to come collect sneakers. Include a map so that your contacts can easily find the closest place to deliver their old sneakers if you’ll be leaving collection bags in several locations.
Getting Started
When you appeal to people on a level they understand and provide straightforward ways to give, you open the door for collecting more sneakers.
Plus GotSneakers will pay you $7 for each pair of sneakers collected. You can put that money towards a project at your child’s school, something new for your office as a donation to your favorite charity or anything else you can think up!