Donate clothing, toys to foster kids
Neighborhood resident Michelle Armour — founder of Foster Kids Charity, a nonprofit dedicated to helping foster children in state care — is organizing a drive to provide kids with care bags stuffed with brand new items of clothing, shoes, toy books and more. “As we approach the holiday season we have a great need for new children’s clothing for boys and girls ages 6 to 10 years old as well as toothbrushes, toothpaste, socks and underwear,” she says Those who wish to donate any of the above items, or arrange a diaper or toy drive, can email care@fosterkidscharity.org or drop off donations at the office, 12830 Hillcrest, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays until Christmas. Donations are tax deductible and representatives provide a receipt for tax purposes.
Donate athletic shoes
Give your old running shoes to The Shoe Guy, and he will deliver them to people who can use them. Most recreational and competitive runners have learned that running shoes lose support after about 300-400 miles. That means shoes that aren’t supportive enough for running are still pretty good for walking, so why not give them to someone who could use them? White Rock area resident Ken Troupe, also known as The Shoe Guy, collects athletic shoes beginning Dec. 1 through Christmas Eve and redistributes them to people who are homeless. Before you deliver the shoes, tie them together and mark them “male” or “female”. Drop them off on Troupe’s porch at 1815 Loving, located west of White Rock Lake. And you don’t have to go through him, he says. If you’d rather, take your pair downtown and give them to a homeless person. “Believe me,” Troupe says. “It will put a smile on their face.” His goal is to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes this December.
• Know of ways that neighbors can spend time, attend an event, or purchase or donate something to benefit a neighborhood nonprofit? Email your suggestion to launch@advocatemag.com.
