Residents Can Help Westford PTOs By Donating Gently Used Shoes

The following was submitted by Kristin Mammen of the Westford Elementary Parent Teacher Organization. To submit your own content, e-mail the editor at andrewsylvia@westfordtemplate.com

Residents can help the Westford Elementary PTO (WEPTO) and the Westford Middle School PTO (WMSPTO) raise money for the elementary and middle schools by donating gently used, wearable pairs of shoes. The two organizations are collecting old shoes to help raise funds for school-related programs, activities and organizations.

The PTOs are participating in a fundraising program provided by ShoeBox Recycling. Secondhand shoes are collected and then distributed for resale and reuse around the world. For each filled box of shoes, the PTOs earn funds that then support many popular and curriculum-driven programs at the elementary and middle schools.

The PTOs have collected more than 11,500 pounds of shoes – raising approximately $6,000 – since they began participating in the program in August 2012.

Collection boxes are located at public schools grades kindergarten through 8, the Westford Public Schools Administrative Offices, 23 Depot St.; the Cameron Senior Center, 20 Pleasant St.; downstairs by the elevator at the J.V. Fletcher Library, 50 Main St.; and at Town Hall, 55 Main St.

Almost all types of shoes are accepted including adult and children’s casual shoes, dress shoes, athletic shoes, work boots and sandals. Heavy winter boots, ski boots, roller skates, rollerblades, ice skates, flip flops, Crocs and bedroom slippers are not accepted. Shoes should be in pairs, in wearable condition, with shoelaces if needed and with no holes. They cannot be wet, mildewed or in need of repairs.

For more information, residents can contact Jean Lux at jlux100@gmail.com or Heidi Tierney at intothewoods3@comcast.net or 978-392-0470 or visit www.westford.com/westelmpto/ or http://mspto.webs.com/. For more information about ShoeBox Recycling, visit www.shoeboxrecycling.com.