Shoes collected today throughout the area will not only help the Roanoke Rapids Main Street Program, but will help people in developing nations in enterprise endeavors.

Two-hundred bags of shoes, with 25 pairs to a bag, were collected today by Funds 2 Orgs, which will have the gently used shoes collected during the drive cleaned and mended for use in those nations, said Kim Simpson, a board member on the Roanoke Avenue Business Alliance. “They can use them to barter for other goods. So many people are without shoes and some children can't go to school if they don't have shoes.”

They have been used to barter for goats for milks and other purposes. The collection drive means around $2,000 for RABA to put to use for more avenue and facade improvements, said board member Janet Dixon.

Since the shoes are cleaned and mended, Simpson said, “It's keeping these shoes from going into landfills. It's recycling at its finest.”

Roanoke Rapids firefighters were among those helping today.

City employees helped load the Funds 2 Orgs truck this morning at city hall.

“We're helping out with the Christmas spirit,” said Lieutenant Matt Glenn of the city's fire department. “I think it's great that people who didn't need anymore can give back to people who don't have and have a need.”

Dixon was pleased with the community spirit that arose behind the drive. “It's another thing that brings the community together.”

Simpson said First Christian Church bagged 50 bags of shoes as a project.

Main Street Director Sherry Hux said, “It's absolutely been an amazing program. The support from the community has been astounding.”