• Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo. Peyton Frank hauls a bag of shoes to the truck as Kim Frank labels bags.
    Peyton Frank hauls a bag of shoes to the truck as Kim Frank labels bags.
  • Article Photo. Volunteers helped load more than 2,500 pairs of shoes Wednesday.
    Volunteers helped load more than 2,500 pairs of shoes Wednesday.

After surpassing their original goal of 2,500 pair of shoes, the members of the Friends of the Shelter, Inc., have set a new goal of more than 3,150 pair. With eight days remaining before the May 15 deadline, it appears they will also reach that goal, and try to set another. 

Several families, school classrooms, businesses and others have helped make the drive a success. 

Soon the shoes will be making their way to one of many Third World countries, where people will train aspiring business owners to fix and sell the shoes. FOTSI receives a per-pound donation from Funds2Orgs. 

On Wednesday, the first truck arrived to haul the shoes to Florida, from where they will go overseas. Along with Todd, Kim, Taylor and Peyton Frank, John and Donita Casey and Nancy Kurt helped label the bags and place them in the already-crowded truck. As in Vinton, other communities exceeded their goal, causing the truck to fill up faster than expected. 

Woof Trax offers donations for those who walk with dogs

Another fund-raising effort has begun; FOTSI is now a partner with Woof Trax, an organization that provides funding for local shelters as a reward for those who walk dogs. An app for smart phones allows participants to sign up and keep track of the miles they walk with pets. The organization makes a donation to the shelter the participant specifies.

See more information on the shoe drive HERE.

See more information about helping area animals through Woof Trax HERE.