Grab Your Used Sneakers For Christmas Without Cancer Fundraiser

EVERGREEN PARK, IL – With spring cleaning season upon us, Christmas Without Cancer is seeking used gym shoes and sneakers for an all-new fundraising program, now through April 24. Donation boxes are currently located throughout the southwest side of Chicago, with locations being added each day.

All shoes will be donated to GotSneakers, a sneaker recycling program which provides money for each pair of used shoes, with the goal of keeping sneakers and gym shoes out of landfill and/or reusing quality pre-loved sneakers for those in need. All reusable sneakers from the company’s sneaker drive fundraiser program are recirculated to the secondhand market, so people can access quality, pre-owned footwear at affordable prices. Heavily used and damaged footwear will be recycled to reuse materials or to convert waste into new energy.

In the United States, at least 200 million pairs of shoes and sneakers end up in landfills each year. Since sneakers are manufactured with materials that are not biodegradable and produce large amounts of CO2, they remain in landfills or are incinerated, which leads to toxic chemicals in our air and soil. Shoes in landfills can take 30 to 40 years to decompose.

Sneakers in gently used new or worn condition in child sizes 4 and above, as well as any adult size, or brand are accepted. Every pair donated will help to raise funds for Christmas Without Cancer.

Convenient drop-off locations are currently located at:

• Evergreen Park Community High School, 9001 S. Kedzie Ave., Evergreen Park (drop shoes off at main entrance during school hours through April 4)
• St. James Place: 5305 W. 95th St.; Oak Lawn (Special Incentive: bring a pair, get a beer)
• Fefles Family Chiropractic: 12505 S. Ridgeland Ave., Suite 2.Palos Heights
• Impact Physical Therapy: 10401 S. Cicero Ave., Oak Lawn AND 15441 S. 94th Ave., Orland Park
• Palmisano Law Group: 10760 W. 143rd St., Suite 63 in Orland Park
• O’Hara and Friends Salon: 7008 W. 127th St.; Palos Heights
• Treadfit Beverly located at 10458 S. Western Ave. in Chicago AND Treadfit Palos Heights 12228 S. Harlem Ave. in Palos Heights
• BJ McMahon’s: 5432 95th St.; Oak Lawn
• Fat Tommy’s: 3031 W. 111th St.; Chicago
• Swanson’s Deli: 2414 W. 103rd St.; Chicago
• JVB Physical Therapy: 3938 W. 111th St., #1B; Chicago
• Letz Box: 3524 W. 111th Street; Chicago
• Worth Township: 11601 S. Pulaski Rd.; Alsip
• Anytime Fitness: 800 W. Laraway Rd.; New Lenox
• Binny’s: 3447 W. 95th St.; Evergreen Park
• PD’s Place: 5407 W. 95th St.; Oak Lawn
• ChuloFit Training Center: 13411 S. Ridgeland Ave.; Palos Heights
• Harthside Realtors, Inc.: 4155 W. 147th St.; Midlothian
• D-Bat: 9950 W. 190th St.; Mokena
• Southside Knockout: 3504 W. 111th St., Chicago; and 15545 71st Ct., Orland Park (beginning Monday, March 14)
• Evergreen Park Recreation Department: 3450 W. 97th St. in Evergreen Park (starting Monday, April 11)

More drop-off locations will be listed on christmaswithoutcancer.org, as they are added.

Since 2003, Christmas Without Cancer has aided thousands of people across the Chicago area by providing holiday gifts, as well as everyday necessities to local families that are stricken with cancer. Founded in 2003 by an oncology nurse, the organization quietly identifies and adopts multiple families throughout the year and supplies them with gift cards for groceries, medications, gas, and other “need” items, as well as help with mortgage payments, rent, tuition and travel related expenses for treatment.

Visit Christmas Without Cancer for more information; learn more about GotSneakers.