KTAF NEWS

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Students from the middle and high schools helped the music department take a step forward with a recent shoe drive that exceeded all expectations.

The goal was to collect 2,500 pairs of quality secondhand shoes —  no small “feet” for a district the size of Independence. The schools, however, far surpassed the original objective by accumulating 4,447 pairs, which brought in $1,700.

Half of the proceeds will go toward student trip accounts for, among other adventures, a 2022 trip to Florida. The other half will be returned to the music department to help defray costs associated with instruments, sheet music, accompanist fees, uniforms and other items.

Music teacher Gretchen Obrovac said the success of the drive can be attributed to a strong collective showing.

“It was a huge community effort. I was overwhelmed by how well it went,” she said.The shoe drive began in August and officially concluded Oct. 1, though the same transportation issues that are plaguing international commerce afforded latecomers a bit of extra time to contribute footwear.

According to Obrovac, donors included staff, parents, families, school board members, churches, businesses, residents and others. The Independence Primary School PTO also kicked in a number of shoes left over from that group’s annual resale event.

The shoes were purchased by Funds2Orgs. The for-profit “social enterprise” repurposes footwear that might otherwise remain in a closet or end up in a landfill. The shoes go to “microentrepreneurs” in developing countries, who then sell the quality footwear to locals at a fraction of the original cost of the shoes.

Although fundraisers for school music departments and other creative pursuits are a necessity, not only in Independence but nationwide, Obrovac also highlighted the often unheralded contributions of the boosters.

“The music boosters are incredibly helpful,” said Obrovac. “They are always willing to support what we do.”