Planning a back to school shoe drive is one of the most effective and eco-friendly ways to fundraise while preparing your school community for the new academic year. As families clean out closets and get ready to buy new shoes, it is the perfect opportunity to collect gently used sneakers and turn them into real support for your school or PTA program.
A back to school shoe drive with GotSneakers is simple, cost-free, and creates positive environmental and social impact. Whether you are raising money for classroom supplies, school events, or athletic programs, this fundraiser delivers value without requiring families to buy or sell anything.
Why a Back to School Shoe Drive Works
Late summer is when most families are preparing for the school year ahead. That often includes buying new sneakers for students. At the same time, old pairs are being tossed out, donated at random, or left to collect dust.
A back to school shoe drive turns this moment into a community-powered fundraiser that:
- Helps families responsibly recycle or donate old sneakers
- Raises money for your school or student programs
- Teaches students about sustainability and global impact
- Requires no selling, buying, or inventory management
Who is GotSneakers?
GotSneakers is a sneaker recycling and fundraising platform that allows schools, nonprofits, and organizations to earn money by collecting gently worn athletic shoes. Sneakers are either repurposed or responsibly recycled, and your group earns a payout based on their condition.
This program is designed to be simple, transparent, and mission-driven. It provides schools with everything needed to start a successful back to school shoe drive.
How the Fundraiser Works
Hosting a back to school shoe drive through GotSneakers is easy and straightforward. Here is how it works:
- Sign up for free at gotsneakers.com
- Receive a starter kit including collection bags, pre-paid shipping labels, and promotional materials
- Set your collection dates in late July through early September to align with school prep season
- Promote the drive through email, flyers, social media, and school announcements
- Collect gently used sneakers from families, students, staff, and the community
- Ship collected sneakers using the provided UPS labels
- Get paid based on condition:
- Excellent: up to $7 per pair
- Good: $2 per pair
- Fair: $1 per pair
- Recyclable: $0 (but still kept out of landfills)
When to Launch Your Shoe Drive
The best time to launch your back to school shoe drive is from mid-July through early September. This is when families are preparing for the school year and naturally cleaning out closets.
Ideal dates include:
- During school registration or orientation
- First week of school
- At PTA or back-to-school night events
- As part of a back-to-school clean-out week
You can run your drive for as little as one week or as long as one month. The more reminders you provide, the more successful the collection will be.
How to Promote Your Back to School Shoe Drive
Promotion is key to a successful shoe drive. Use the resources provided by GotSneakers and add your own creativity to spread the word.
Ideas for Effective Promotion:
- Include an announcement in your school’s welcome-back newsletter
- Post updates and reminders on your PTA’s Facebook and Instagram pages
- Add the shoe drive to your school calendar or app
- Set up collection bins in high-traffic areas such as front offices or gym lobbies
- Send take-home flyers with students during the first week of school
- Mention the fundraiser during school announcements or assemblies
You can also encourage friendly competition by hosting a classroom or grade-level contest. The class that collects the most sneakers could earn a fun reward, like extra recess time or a school spirit day.
Why This Fundraiser Appeals to Families
Many school fundraisers ask families to buy or sell products, which can create financial stress or require significant volunteer support. A back to school shoe drive is different.
Here is why families appreciate it:
- No cost to participate
- Gives them a reason to clean out closets
- Easy to involve children in giving
- Helps protect the environment
- Supports their own school or child’s classroom
For busy families and overextended PTA boards, this type of fundraiser is welcome relief.
Educational Benefits for Students
A GotSneakers drive is more than just a fundraiser. It is a real-life lesson in:
- Environmental responsibility – Sneakers kept out of landfills
- Global impact – Shoes reused or recycled for people in need
- Community service – Helping others through collective action
You can pair the drive with classroom discussions or student-led presentations about recycling and sustainability. This turns your fundraiser into an experiential learning opportunity.
Example: How One Elementary School Raised $1,250
A public elementary school in Texas ran a back to school shoe drive during the first three weeks of the fall semester. They:
- Promoted the drive through school email blasts, social media, and signage
- Sent home flyers with every student on the first day
- Offered a pizza party to the classroom with the most donated pairs
- Collected over 500 pairs of sneakers in three weeks
- Earned $1,250 to fund library improvements and student enrichment programs
The school praised the simplicity of the process and the high participation rate from families.
Tips to Maximize Results
Here are some best practices to help your back to school shoe drive run smoothly and achieve strong results:
- Start promoting 1 to 2 weeks before collection begins
- Set a realistic collection goal (for example, 250 or 500 pairs)
- Make your bins eye-catching with student artwork or themed posters
- Use digital channels like email and social media for weekly reminders
- Share updates mid-drive to maintain momentum
- Announce results and thank participants at the end
Who Can Participate?
While schools are the primary audience, any of the following groups can run a back to school shoe drive with GotSneakers:
- Parent Teacher Associations (PTA/PTO)
- School sports teams
- After-school clubs
- Faith-based youth groups
- Community centers
- Local nonprofit organizations
If your group has access to students, parents, or local families preparing for school, this fundraiser will work for you.
Sustainability Impact
Every sneaker collected has the potential to be:
- Reused by someone in need
- Recycled to recover raw materials
- Kept out of landfills where shoes can take 30 to 40 years to decompose
By pairing your back to school shoe drive with environmental education, your school can reinforce values of waste reduction, social giving, and community impact.
Get Started with Your Back to School Shoe Drive Today!
If you are ready to organize a fundraiser that is easy to run, free to start, and has both financial and environmental benefits, GotSneakers is the ideal partner.
Your back to school shoe drive can help fund student activities, classroom needs, or school improvement projects, all while teaching the values of sustainability and service.
Start your sneaker drive today at www.gotsneakers.com and make this school year count for more than just grades.