Before you throw away that old pair of sneakers, the Environmental Club at Guilford High School (GHS) wants them for the school’s pollinator garden.

The club is running a shoe collection drive to raise funding for the garden, as well as a critical rehabilitation facility in Killingworth.

“It is truly an amazing cause that helps people in need, keeps the planet clean, and fundraises for A Place Called Hope and for our pollinator gardens at GHS simply by collecting old shoes that are cluttering our closets,” said Addi Smith, a junior at GHS.

A Place Called Hope (APCH) is a non-profit raptor rehabilitation facility that is the go-to entity for much of the state for any bird of prey needing medical attention. APCH is also currently striving to enact a statewide ban on second-generation anti-coagulant rodent poisons, which have now been proven to be unintentionally killing numerous species of wildlife, especially raptors.

“The work that they do is so essential and so generally impactful that the club thought our drive would be a really good way to contribute to that effort,” said Smith.

The club has set up drop-off boxes at GHS and the Nathanael B. Greene Community Center, 32 Church Street. The boxes will be available through Friday, Dec. 15.

“Residents can donate unwanted athletic sneakers to us, and we will send them to a company that we are partnering with called Got Sneakers,” Smith said.

According to the club, Got Sneakers sorts through the shoes and determines their quality and value. For wearable athletic sneakers, the club receives $1 to $7. The shoes are then donated to those in need. The company will recycle unwearable sneakers into products such as playground floors and athletic fields.

Athletic sneakers of all sizes, styles, and brands are accepted. This drive will not accept non-athletic shoes, including heels, boots, sandals, etc.

“Essentially, this is a great cause and a win-win for everyone involved,” said Smith. “It’s a great way to help people and our environment in different ways. It’s a good way to get rid of your old shoes in a responsible way, but it also benefits the environment, it benefits birds, it benefits people in need, our pollinator garden, and really it benefits the whole community.”