Five-year-old Olivia Berry wondered whether she could donate all the shoes she’d outgrown. And that gave her an idea: What if others donated their used shoes, too? From that idea came the “Shoes for Paws” donation campaign at her elementary school, a campaign that collected over 700 pairs of used shoes, most of which will be shipped to third-world countries where they can be distributed to local people (some of the used shoes collected will not be suitable for sending overseas. Paired shoes with high heels over two inches, flip flops, and/or shoes with excessive wear or holes will not be sent).

Here she is, standing in front of a mountain of used shoes:

See a video of her story here.

None of this would have been possible, however, without the support and infrastructure of a company called Shoe Good. According to their website, “Shoe Good uses the power of business to change the world. We collect and sell shoes globally to raise funds for local initiatives. Through our shoe distribution network, we’re a self-sustaining, triple-bottom-line company that creates social, economic, and environmental value for everyone involved.”

Shoe Good exists to help. They help you raise money for your church group, school, club, or etc. And they help by sending the shoes you collected overseas where they can be distributed to someone in need. A triple-bottom-line company is a company with integrity; a company that measures its success by its social, environmental, and economic impact. In other words, it’s not about the money. It’s about making a real difference.

If your school, church group, or team is looking for a way to raise money, consider Shoe Good. Working together, you can raise the funds you need while at the same time providing a pair of shoes to someone else in need. It’s a win-win. You can inquire about a shoe drive through their website here.