ReBoot Shoe Drive Gives Shoes a Second Llife

The ReBoot Shoe Drive has wrapped up after a successful six-week collection campaign that brought together the Church of the Apostles Helper Bees Program and the Guelph Tool Library. Running from June 1 to July 15, the community drive collected more than 1,500 pairs of shoes and boots, surpassing its original goal of 1,000 pairs. 

Every donated pair has now been processed, with footwear sorted for reuse, cleaning, and distribution. More than 1000 pairs have already been distributed to local community organizations, including Waterloo Wellington Canadian Mental Health Association, Guelph Food Bank Clothing Store, Rachel’s Saturday Table, Hope House, and Royal City Mission.  The program was made possible through a grant from the Guelph Community Foundation. 

ReBoot was created to reduce textile waste while giving quality footwear a second life. Rather than allowing unwanted shoes to end up in the landfill, the program connects usable footwear with people who need it. Shoes that cannot be reused are diverted for recycling through TerraCycle. 

Throughout the six-week campaign, donations were collected at three collection locations, including the Shoeper Store, the Guelph Tool Library, and the Church of the Apostles. Community members contributed everything from summer sandals and running shoes to winter boots. At the Guelph Tool Library, the donated footwear was assessed, sorted, tracked, and prepared for distribution. 

The project was also supported by a dedicated team of volunteers from Community of Hearts, who came to the Guelph Tool Library each Wednesday to clean the donated footwear. Their enthusiasm, kindness, and teamwork played an important role in preparing hundreds of pairs for their new owners. “ReBoot shows the impact that’s possible when organizations come together to create meaningful opportunities,” said Drew Kolohon, Program Manager at Community of Hearts. “We’re proud to have partnered with a program that helps people feel included and valued.” 

Shoes that could not be reused were also given a second life through recycling. TerraCycle processes donated footwear by separating shoes into their component materials and recovering those materials for use in manufacturing. “No shoe donated will go to waste,” said Burlacu. “Whether a pair is passed on to someone in need or recycled into new materials, every donation has the opportunity for a new life.” 

John Dennis, Coordinator of the Helper Bees, said that “the success of ReBoot demonstrates what can happen when community organizations, volunteers, and residents work together around a simple idea: a pair of shoes that is no longer needed by one person can make a meaningful difference to someone else.” 

Thanks to the generosity of our community, more people will have access to a variety of footwear, from summer sandals to warm winter boots. Fulfilling requests from community organizations and finding the right pair for each person has been incredibly rewarding.