for Rojo and others: is there a "used shoes for Kenyans" program?

Here's another link for the same organization. "Toby" is Toby Tanser:

http://www.shoe4africa.org/how-you-can-help

http://ideamensch.com/toby-tanser/

Turns out that the moment you ask a question, you start discovering the answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7O9aBjLoSg&feature=channel

Shoe4Africa is a great organization and Toby is legit and a great guy.

Tanser is an interesting guy. I give him credit for making a career out of "helping" the Africans. I'm not convinced he does everything for the right reason, but at least he does some good while over there.

I had the same question after reading Rojo's write-up. I donate my used shoes to Goodwill right now, but I'd rather send them to aspiring runners in Africa. What's the consensus; is shoe4africa the way to go?

Toby does a lot of really great work and Shoe4Africa is legitimate, but I have to make one comment regarding shoes. Unfortunately the Kenyan gov't charges duties on all imports, including used shoes, so not only does the donor need to pay for shipping shoes over there (expensive), it's also really important that if you do this that you pay for the import duties, otherwise Shoe4Africa has to, diverting funding from other important activities.

If you know anyone who is traveling to Kenya, that's the better alternative and the kids on my trips know to always check as many bags as they're allowed, filling any extra bags with used shoes or school supplies which we donate in Iten. Even with a $50/bag fee, it's worthwhile to get a big box of shoes over there as they make such a difference. Your local running shoe store might be willing to be a depot for anyone in the area who travels to Kenya and is willing to take donated shoes over. It's a great thing to do.

kudzurunner wrote:

It seems criminal to just throw them out after I've put in my 500 miles, knowing that somebody with a dream of becoming a pro runner over in Kenya would make good use of them.

Sell them on Ebay, somebody will give you $15-20 for them.

If you have decent used running shoes and there is a road race in your area that attracts Kenyans, you can literally just show up with the shoes in a bag and give them to the athletes and know that they'll be put to good use. I've done this several times - and in one case I actually saw my old shoes on a guy when I went to Kenya a few months later.

kudzurunner wrote:

My question is: Does a program exist that would let me recycle my used running shoes by sending them to Kenya. It seems criminal to just throw them out after I've put in my 500 miles, knowing that somebody with a dream of becoming a pro runner over in Kenya would make good use of them.

...

Any thoughts about this?

I have a thought. The Kenyans are doing just fine without your stinky shoes.

My coach is Filipino. He says his family's shoe-making business has been decimated because of shoe donations.

What's the big deal with running shoes anyway? Can't we finding something better to donate?

think twice wrote:

What's the big deal with running shoes anyway? Can't we finding something better to donate?

In many developing countries they can get many of the other things that people might think to donate - clothes, school supplies, regular shoes, etc. They may not always be able to afford these items, but they are available. Running shoes are very difficult to get ahold of in many countries (such as Kenya), especially in more rural communities. That's why they're such a great donation.

strivetrips wrote: In many developing countries they can get many of the other things that people might think to donate - clothes, school supplies, regular shoes, etc...

Some people are quite happy to accept soiled shirts, old shoes, almost anything, even used undies after they have personally washed them.

Unless you have gone without something, and have nothing, you really don't know what you will actually accept and use.

My grandparents lived next door to a slum area in Mexico. Growing up, I spent many summers there having a great time. If you give something to someone who really needs it you can absolutely tell. The reaction is nothing like you get in the U.S. when you give a dollar to someone begging on a freeway off-ramp.

Are old shoes not an invitation for injury? Especially when you know someone is going to be training hardcore in them?

Seems more like you are trying to sabotage the Kenyans with a Trojan horse

I like this idea.

Throw in a bunch of playstations and TV's, six cargo planes full of KFC, laptops with free wifi, and a massive shopping mall with plenty of places to just hang with friends, and you'll be able to destroy the natural advantage young Kenyan athletes have over their counterparts in the rest of the world.

Seriously though, all my old shoes get donated to Papua New Guinea and various Pacific Island communities. Makes much more sense than binning them... they've only got 600k on them, and are perfectly fine to walk around in.