The endless consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday prompted the establishment of Giving Tuesday in 2012. Known as Giving Tuesday because of its roots in social media, the event uses online social platforms to tap into “the generosity of people around the world” and prompt acts of generosity.
If you’re looking for a way to give back this year, consider recycling your old sneakers.
Why Sneakers for Giving Tuesday?
When your sneakers start to wear out, you can either toss them in the garbage or put them to good use. Shoes still in wearable condition may be donated to Goodwill, local shelters, city missions or an organization like GotSneakers so that those less fortunate can have comfortable footwear. Programs like Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe keep old sneakers out of landfills by repurposing the material into surfaces for athletic fields and playgrounds.
Pledging to Give More than Shoes
Donating or recycling your sneakers opens up new opportunities for the people who receive your gift. In many countries, footwear is essential for preventing the spread of soil-based infections and is required for children to attend school. Organizations collecting and sending shoes to these areas often work with locals to set up small enterprises in which the shoes are sold at affordable prices. This provides ready sources of footwear and steady income streams in areas where both are desperately needed.
Don’t stop with a single shoe donation. Get into the spirit of the season by setting up a shoe drive to collect footwear from all over town. Find out if local organizations need help for the holidays, and volunteer your time to serve those less fortunate in your area.
Spreading the Word
Get others involved by using the Giving Tuesday hashtag on your social media accounts to highlight what you’re doing to give back. Tweet about your activities, make public posts on Facebook and share snapshots on Instagram to ignite a spirit of giving in others. Since Giving Tuesday is a global effort, anyone can participate in whatever way best meets the needs of their locations.
Running a GotSneakers fundraiser in your town or donating your old shoes to a charitable organization can make a difference in the lives of people around the world. It may seem like a small and simple act, but the continued success of Giving Tuesday shows how many such small expressions of generosity can have big results.