CHS WaterStep Club collecting old shoes to help people in Africa

A group of Corbin High School students is, once again, collecting shoes that will ultimately help people in Africa have better access to clean drinking water

The Corbin High School WaterStep Club is conducting its annual shoe drive this month. Members Barrett Gibbs and Lauren Shackleford show off the donation box at the high school.

The WaterStep Club, led by Social Studies teacher Cheryl Tinsley is seeking used, and even mismatched shoes, ranging from flipflops to boots, to benefit the WaterStep organization.

The shoes are then sold to a company that recycles them.

WaterStep uses the proceeds to repair broken water wells and to purchase water balls that enable residents that typically travel miles to reach a water source to more easily transport the water.

“The balls hold 12 to 20 gallons of water and may be rolled,” Tinsley explained.

“They teach the residents how to repair the wells and provide filters that can filter up to 10,000 gallons of water per day.

In addition, WaterStep provides chlorine generators, water filtration systems, and well drilling kits

Corbin High School students have collected more than 10,000 pairs of shoes since the annual drive began in 2013.

“If we reach our goal of 1,500 shoes, we will have collected more than 12,000 pairs of shoes,” said Tinsley noting that six students are participating this year.

Donation boxes have been set up at the various locations across the area including: Corbin High School, Corbin Middle School, Corbin Intermediate School, Corbin Elementary School, Corbin Primary School, Grace on the Hill United Methodist Church, Shiner Church of Christ, Central Baptist Church, Freedom Point Church, The Corbin Center and Brentwood Pharmacy.

Students have set out to collect 1,500 shoes by month’s end.

“If any business or organization in the area would like to be a donation place, we will get them a donation box,” Tinsley said adding she may be contacted by email at cheryl.tinsley@corbin.kyschools.us.

More information about the program is available at www.waterstep.org.