Darin and Nelda Edgecomb are shown with their children Malachi, left, and Mia.

NORTH MANCHESTER — The Edgecomb family is conducting a shoe drive fundraiser until Sept. 5, to raise funds for their adoption of up to three children from Haiti.

The Edgecombs will earn funds based on the total weight of the pairs of gently worn, used and new shoes collected, as Funds2Orgs will issue a check for the collected shoes. Those dollars will benefit the adoption expenses. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used and new shoes at three convenient Warsaw locations: Lowery Sewing and Vacuum Center (707 E. Winona Ave.), Builder’s Mart (2240 N. Detroit St.), Reinholt’s Town Square Furniture (118 W. Main St.), and Signature Photography Studio, 902 Park Ave., in Winona Lake.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise (small business) partners. Funds2Orgs works with micro-entrepreneurs in helping them create, maintain and grow small businesses in developing countries where economic opportunity and jobs are limited. Proceeds from the sales of the shoes collected in shoe drive fundraisers are used to feed, clothe and house their families. One budding entrepreneur in Haiti even earned enough to send her son to law school.

“As you donate your shoes through this shoe drive, you will be supporting us in the expenses of our adoption as well as blessing many people in other countries on the other end of this shoe drive. The shoes from all of you are sent to people that need simple things, like food and water, for them to sell to try to earn a living. The amazing thing about this shoe drive is it reaches far more people than just our family,” said Darin Edgecomb.

By donating gently worn, used and new shoes (sneakers, flip flops, heels, steel toes, snow boots, sandals, slippers, cowboy boots, etc.) to the Edgecombs, the shoes will be given a second chance, they eliminate another item reaching landfills, and the shoes make a difference in people’s lives around the world.

About The Edgecomb Family

Darin and Nelda Edgecomb, and their children, Malachi, 8, and Mia, 5, live outside of North Manchester. They are members of the Old German Baptist Brethren – New Conference Church.

The Edgecombs are adopting up to three children from Haiti. The family started the adoption process in January 2018 and hope to be matched with their children in the next few months.

For more information, call (260) 578-8227 or email [email protected].