Beverly School Shoe Drive To Help Fund New Playground

BEVERLY, MA — A pair of slightly used or too-small shoes can help build a new Beverly playground through an Ayers/Ryal Side Elementary School fundraiser over the next two months.

The school has partnered with Funds2Orgs on the fundraiser in which the school will receive money based on the total weight of the collection to go toward a new school playground.

All donated shoes will be cleaned, restored, and redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network to small business partners in developing nations.

New and used shoes will be collected. Used shoes should be gently worn and cannot be wet or moldy. Funds2Orgs accepts shoes, sneakers and cleats. Ice skates and roller skates will not be accepted.

Community members can drop off shoes in collection boxes at the following location through Nov. 17:

• Café Salerno, 73 Cabot St., Beverly, Sept.17 to Oct. 20

• Unpacked Living, 66 Maple St., Danvers, Sept. 18 to Nov. 1

• Barber's Edge, 324 Rantoul St., Beverly, Sept. 18 to Nov. 1.

• The Cummings Center, 100 building, first floor main lobby, Sept. 25 to Oct. 20

• Inner Cycle, 377 Cabot St., Beverly, Sept. 25 to Oct. 20

• Beverly Fire Department, 15 Hale St., Beverly, Oct. 21 to Nov. 17

• North Shore Children’s Museum, 10 Main St., Peabody, Oct. 21 to Nov. 17

• Beverly Senior Center, 90 Colon St., Beverly, Oct. 23 to Nov. 10

• Ayers/Ryal Side Elementary School, Woodland Ave., Nov. 7 (Election Day)

"We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets," said Meredith Quinn, Ayers Parent Teacher Organization co-president. "If they donate them to us, we raise money for a new playground and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities.

"It's a win-win for everyone."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)