Wichita East High School students are collecting gently worn shoes to cover the cost of competing in SkillsUSA trade competitions during the 2026-27 school year.

The Blue Aces Construction program partnered with Funds2Orgs, a Florida-based social enterprise, for the drive. Funds2Orgs pays organizations based on the total weight of shoes collected, KWCH reported Wednesday, Sept. 23. The collected footwear is then shipped to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries who resell the shoes in their communities.

Aaron Haselwood, the construction trades teacher leading the effort, said the approach sets it apart from a typical fundraiser.

"We're just asking for shoes. Everybody has shoes in their closet that they don't wear anymore, maybe they didn't like how they fit," Haselwood said. "So this will be a way to give back and help out small businesses in third world countries."

Drop-offs of gently worn or new shoes are accepted at Wichita East High School. The drive runs through the end of November.

The money raised will help students pay fees for SkillsUSA state and national competitions. SkillsUSA's competition structure starts at the local chapter level, advances through district and state rounds each spring, and culminates at a national championship each June, according to the organization's website. More than 7,000 state champions compete in 115 events at the national level.

The reselling of donated shoes helps families in developing countries feed, clothe and house their children, according to the KWCH report. Funds2Orgs, founded in 2013 by Wayne Elsey, works with micro-enterprise partners in 26 countries.

No specific fundraising dollar goal has been announced. The school described the aim as collecting "hundreds of pairs of shoes" before the November deadline.