Helping Hand: East High students collect old shoes to raise money for state, national competitions

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - Students at East High School are on a mission to show off their skills, and they’re hoping old shoes will get them there.

“We’re raising money for our state and national competitions for Skills USA,” said Aaron Haselwood, a teacher at the school. “Instead of asking for money, because we know money is tight right now, we decided to do a shoe drive fundraiser.”

The students partnered with ‘Funds to Orgs.’ The organization picks up the shoes and issues a check based on the total pounds of shoes collected.

“We’ve collected about 200 pairs right now. We’ve had a really good response from the community, bringing in shoes and dropping them off at our main entrance,” said Haselwood.

The money raised will help the students get to the Skills USA competitions to show off their talents.

“Skills USA is a career and technical student organization run by our students here at East High. It covers a wide range of skilled trades,” Haselwood said.

“We have carpentry, like Mr. Haselwood said, we have culinary down the hallway, we have HVAC, plumbing, we have a variety here,” said Samual Lara, a student at East High.

“The fact that I’m proving myself, if I can make it to nationals, even if I don’t win nationals, it’s something I can hold dear to me,” said Tysheala, another student.

Anyone interested in helping can drop off their old shoes at the East High School main entrance, or become a shoe drop off site.

KWCH and DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers gave the students a helping hand.