Homewood environmental science classes are turning over a new leaf this year with their school-wide shoe drive and commitment to community-focused environmental initiatives. 

Kelly Roth is in her third year of teaching environmental science and 19th year at Homewood. After an inspiring trip to the running supply store Trak Shak, she learned about their decade-long partnership with EcoSneakers, a nonprofit dedicated to saving shoes from landfills.

“Teaching this content, environmental science, has drawn more awareness to [the importance of] getting involved,” Roth said. “This school year I’ve been thinking for my environmental science classes that we need to locally find ways to make a positive impact.”

EcoSneakers, a company based in Atlanta, collects and distributes gently used shoes to children and those experiencing homelessness from centers across the Southeast. 

Trak Shak, located in downtown Homewood, is one of these donation outposts. Since their establishment in 1995, they have hosted charity runs, food drives and shoe donations to local shelters. 

“EcoSneakers approached us because their mission is to help get shoes to folks that need them,” co-owner Jeff Martinez said. “[The shoe donation program] has been pretty well received over the years because folks then catch on and know that we collect the shoes and that they go to a good cause.”

Each time Trak Shak receives shoe donations, they are boxed and shipped with a special EcoSneakers label. The package then travels to Atlanta to be processed and redistributed to those in need.

For donations that are unable to be worn, special shredders are used to repurpose the shoes into teddy bear stuffing, playground mulch, flip-flops or even slides. 

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, over 300 million pairs of shoes end up in landfills each year. 

“Whatever we donate keeps that number low,” said Martinez. 

Although the high school shoe drive ended on Sept. 13, the Trak Shak will continue to accept new and used shoes at all three of their locations.

Roth plans to continue to find new ways for students to work with service organizations on environmentally conscious projects for the remainder of the year.