PULLMAN, Wash.—New and gently used shoes for people in need around the world recently were shipped to the charity Soles4Souls from the International Textile and Apparel Association student chapter at Washington State University. Students collected 86 pairs from mid-November to mid-December.
“I was really inspired to see people…filling up the donation boxes and posting on Facebook,” said club acting president and senior Stormi Crow. “I hope this is something the club can do again in the future and hold as a tradition.”
She said the club wanted to involve the entire Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles department in the philanthropy and announced the drive in classes and meetings. Faculty, staff and students didn’t disappoint—they contributed high heels, casual shoes, sneakers, men’s shoes, sandals and children’s shoes.
“It was great to see students within the department help out with our cause,” said chapter treasurer and junior Gordon Stumpo. “One day the box was empty, and the next it seemed to be overflowing with donated shoes.”
“It was amazing to see how many shoes our department was able to bring in with such a short amount of time,” said club secretary and senior Chanel Wallwork.
According to club public relations officer and senior Georgina Dauer, the idea to hold the drive came from her mother, Laurel. One WSU sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, provided the lion’s share of the drive’s shoes at 40 pairs, Dauer said.
The student chapter provides the department’s students with a chance to participate in learning, philanthropic and recreational activities. Special events on campus that the club is involved in are design and merchandising competitions, exhibitions and the annual Mom’s Weekend Fashion Show. For details, visit the ITAA Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WSU.ITAA.
Since 2005, Soles4Souls has delivered more than 19 million pairs of shoes to people in more than 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. For more information, visit http://www.soles4souls.org/.
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