— Submitted photo Eighth grade students Carly Appel, Gabbie Larson, and Max Whitmore sit atop bags of donated shoes. The students are part of a WC2DC fundraiser which will help defray costs for a trip to Washington, D.C. next spring, led by teacher Patsy Brock.

WC2DC is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser through the end of July to raise funds for a group of eight kids to go to Washington DC next May.

WC2DC will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit this group of kids going to Washington DC. Anyone can help by donating shoes by dropping them off at The Dance Connection and Hamilton County Farm Bureau during business hours.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of small business partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs to help them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough money to send her son to law school.

“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Misti Whitmore, parent of student Max. “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money for this small group of kids, and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

WC2DC is a group of eighth graders that go to Washington, DC in May. The trip is organized by Patsy Brock. Each child that goes on the trip is responsible for their own fundraising and all the funds they make from the shoe drive will go directly to the kids taking part in the shoe drive.

The group of youths working on the fundraiser are Shelby Brim, Carly Appel, Kailey Geopfert, Gabbie Larson, Morgan Hanson, Max Whitmore, Colin Malloy and Connor Hanson.

The goal is to collect 2500 pairs or more of shoes. They have received 525 pairs.

“I’ve never seen a fundraiser like this before. It would be really great to see the kids succeed and go beyond their goal,” said parent Jennifer Brim.