The following article was written by Lisa Tindell, executive director of Escambia County Habitat for Humanity.

If you ever wondered about turning shoes into safe homes, Escambia County Habitat for Humanity is working to make that happen.

“We are collecting gently-used shoes to help raise funds needed for critical repairs and construction projects of our organization,” said Lisa Tindell, executive director of ECHFH. “We need as many shoes as possible to make this drive a success and to raise desperately needed funds.”

Tindell said ECHFH has placed a donation box at the Atmore City Hall for those in Atmore and surround areas to donate to the drive. ECHFH is partnering with Funds2Org, a group focused on collecting shoes for developing communities around the world.

“Funds2Org has given us a great opportunity where everyone wins,” Tindell said. “We collect shoes and they donate money to our organization based on the number of shoes we collect. Funds2Org then takes those shoes and provides opportunities to budding entrepreneurs to be in business for themselves. Those recipients clean and re-vamp the shoes so they can be purchased for a nominal fee for those in need.”

Tindell said that by donating shoes to this cause, those sellers are becoming business-owners in their own countries and providing a service at a low cost to those in need.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved,” Tindell said. “Habitat receives funds to help those in need in our communities while Funds2Org provides an opportunity for people who need shoes to get them in communities around the world.”

Tindell said the shoe drive will continue throughout the month of July with donations accepted at Atmore City Hall and at the Habitat Restore on Douglas Avenue in Brewton.

To find out more about Habitat and the services they offer, contact Tindell at 251-867-0095 or drop by the Habitat office inside the Restore at 1606 Douglas Ave. in Brewton next to Jalisco’s.