A shoe donation drive that has become an annual coastal Alabama tradition is once again asking runners and residents to clean out their closets ahead of the Azalea Trail Run in downtown Mobile on March 28.
Now in its 12th year, the Many More Miles campaign is organized by Baldwin Bone and Joint, P.C. and collects gently used athletic shoes to benefit two local homeless outreach organizations serving the Mobile and Baldwin County area.
The campaign began modestly in 2003 with roughly 200 pairs of shoes collected. Last year, the drive brought in more than 1,300 pairs, which were distributed with the help of two partner organizations, one based in Mobile and the other in Daphne.
Organizers say the campaign isn’t limited strictly to athletic shoes. Donated shoes that aren’t practical for people experiencing homelessness are instead sold through the partner organizations thrift stores at discounted prices, with proceeds supporting their broader outreach mission.
Children’s shoes are consistently among the most requested items, and organizers have built a friendly competition among coastal Alabama elementary and intermediate schools to help meet that need. Students collect donated shoes throughout the weeks leading up to the Azalea Trail Run, and the three schools that gather the most pairs earn cash prizes for their physical education programs.
Last year, a Fairhope-area intermediate school claimed first place for the fourth consecutive year, collecting hundreds of pairs of shoes and winning a $300 prize for its PE program. A second Fairhope-area school and a third area school also placed among the top collectors.
Residents interested in donating are asked to make sure their shoes are reasonably clean and tied together before dropping them off. Collection sites include Baldwin Bone and Joint’s Daphne office, area YMCA facilities in Mobile and Daphne, an outdoor retailer on Springhill Avenue in Mobile, the University of South Alabama’s student recreation center, and the Azalea Trail Run expo itself.