For more than two years, Assistance League of Northern Virginia has been collecting new and gently used athletic shoes as a fundraising program through GotSneakers.com, which compensates nonprofit organizations based on the quality and condition of the sneakers they collect.  Gently worn and new shoes are provided to people who could not otherwise afford quality sneakers.  Shoes that are not suitable for reuse are recycled into paving materials for resurfacing playgrounds and tracks, and are kept out of landfills.

The Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a sneaker-collection competition for its members, with proceeds going to Assistance League. The competition, which began on April 8 and runs through June 14, challenges the Chamber’s Leadshare Groups to see which group can collect the most sneakers.  We are very grateful to the Chamber and its member businesses for partnering with us in this endeavor and we encourage other businesses and organizations to organize similar contests.

If you would like to donate sneakers,  we have many collection points throughout the area, including businesses and individuals.  Two organizations in Manassas accept sneakers from everyone:  The House of Mercy, 8170  Flannery Court, and the Spine Care of Manassas Chiropractic Center, 10633 Crestwood Drive.  These businesses are collecting sneakers for us from their clients and members: The Family Chiropractic Center, 2972 Chain Bridge Road, Oakton; Select Physical Therapy, 7508 Iron Bar Lane, Gainesville; and Fairfax Racquet Club, 9860 Fairfax Boulevard, Fairfax.  We appreciate this community support from those organizations.

In addition, several of our members are collecting sneakers in their neighborhoods.  If you have sneakers to donate, send a message to the volunteer nearest you and you’ll receive the address for that drop box.  Those areas and the related email addresses are:  Burke: burke@alnv.org; Chantilly/Fairfax: fairfax.chantilly@alnv.org; Fairfax:  Fairfax@alnv.org; Herndon: herndon@alnv.org;  Oakton: oakton@alnv.org; Oak Hill: oakhill@alnv.org;  and Springfield: springfield@alnv.org.    Contact: Fairfax.chantilly@alnv.org if you have questions about this program.

For details about the types of athletic shoes we accept, please check our website: Got Sneakers | Assistance League – Northern Virginia or scan the QR code on the flyer.