GREENVILLE – WaterStep Shoe Drive will take place August 1 – 31. Since 1995, WaterStep, a 501(c)3 Kentucky – based organization, has worked in more than 33 countries, bringing safe water to communities in Asia, Africa and the Americas.

They train people in developing countries how to use water solutions like water purification, health education and well repair, empowering communities to take care of their own water needs for years. WaterStep sells the shoes to an exporter who in turn takes them into some of the same developing countries that WaterStep is doing water purification projects. The exporter then sells them to small vendors who repair the shoes and sells them.

The donated shoes serve mutliple purposes: builds the economy of a local community, provides affordable foot ware, keeps shoes out of landfills and initiates sustainable water projects. WaterStep takes any and all types of shoes, regardless of their condition as long as they are free from mold/mildew.

Three local churches are accepting shoes for the shoe drive. Greenville Church of the Brethren, 421 Central Avenue; First Presbyterian, 114 E. Fourth Street and First United Methodist, 202 W. Fourth Street.