A Northeast Iowa teen has taken on the task of collecting thousands of shoes for the needy.

15-year-old Sarah Smith of Sumner, a student at Sumner-Fredericksburg High School, is undertaking the collection of 25,000 pairs of shoes for the Soles4Souls agency.

Soles4Souls collects shoes and distributes them to needy families in the U.S., and 127 other countries.

Smith originally had a goal of collecting 10,000 pairs of shoes, however, she found out that if she gathers 25,000 pairs, the agency will send her and a parent to one of the distribution sites around the world.

Currently, Smith has gathered almost 12,000 pairs of shoes, which are stored in her parents' garage.

Anyone may donate to the effort, and the shape of the shoes does not matter, except it has to have a sole. There are 8 drop off sites for shoes in Sumner; plus Smith has a Facebook page (web) dedicated to her effort.

Kittrell Elementary School in Waterloo is assisting Smith with a shoe drive; plus on Sunday afternoon (May 6) the Hope City church in Waterloo will serve as a drop-off site for the community.

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