contributed photo This summer, Wolfe Ranch of Quakerdale held a shoe collection fundraiser through Funds2orgs, which ran from June 1 to July 31 and received 2,169 pairs of shoes.

There are many types of unique fundraising drives companies and organizations put on at any given time. This summer, Wolfe Ranch of Quakerdale held a shoe collection fundraiser through Funds2orgs, which ran from June 1 to July 31.

Funds2orgs is a U.S. based non-profit organization and network that has donated shoes internationally to those in need in developing nations since the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

The ranch received 2,169 pairs of shoes. Beth McAndrew, the executive director of Wolfe Ranch said the idea for the fundraiser came to her in an email a few months ago.

“I’m like, ‘Wait a minute. We’re looking for a new idea for a fundraiser, I wonder about this,'” she said. “So I Googled Funds2Orgs, and I was like, ‘Wow, this looks kind of cool!'”

During the drive, pairs of shoes could be donated to 12 locations in Marshall County and in surrounding counties. McAndrew worked with the governing board to decide where the donation drop-offs would be.

“We brainstormed together,” she said. “Everyone had different locations that they thought would be willing to collect shoes, and they reached out to them and we signed them on.”

The rate in which shoes were donated was rapid once the shoe drive had started, according to McAndrew.

“They were coming in on the day that we put the donation of the collection boxes out, so people were immediately bringing shoes,” she said.

In addition to shoes being donated at certain locations, money donations were also accepted virtually.McAndrew said she hasn’t the official total of money that was donated in what they called “virtual shoes.”

Now that the drive itself is over, the ranch’s focus has now shifted to getting the shoes to their destination. McAndrew said those discussions on transporting the shoes are happening now and a date for picking up the shoes has yet to be finalized.

Due to the success of this summer’s shoe drive, another drive may be in the cards at a later time. A discussion with the board may happen as soon as next month.

“My board has suggested that we do this again later, we’re not sure exactly when,” McAndrew said.

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Contact Sam Stuve at 641-753-6611 or at sstuve@timesrepublican.com