Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)
Udupi, Oct 23: A large-scale footwear collection drive titled ‘Nadige – your donation towards thousand steps’ inaugurated at the premises of MGM College in Udupi on October 23, with the aim of collecting unused footwear and extending support to those in need.
The three-day campaign is organized in association with GreenSole Foundation, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial College NSS Unit along with other organizations, and is being held on October 23, 24 and 25, from 9.30 am to 6 pm, at MGM College. The initiative encourages people to donate their unused footwear, promoting reuse and sustainable living while making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Fr Denis D’Sa, parish priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, appreciated the initiative led by Avinash Kamath and described it as a novel concept serving a meaningful cause. He also commended the GreenSole Foundation for its work and highlighted the involvement of young people in the campaign.
Shreyansh Bhandari, co-founder of GreenSole, Mumbai, said, “The unused footwear collected through this drive will be recycled and donated to children in need. As we complete 10 years of this initiative, our core message remains that we must care for one another. I hope the youth of our country draw inspiration from this effort. When we started GreenSole, we never imagined it would grow to this extent. We aim to systematically record the footwear collected in Udupi and aspire to set a Guinness World Record for the collection of unused footwear. Our mission goes beyond collecting shoes; we want to give them a new life and ensure they reach children who need them the most.”
Hariprasad Rai, chairman of HPR Group of Institutions Manipal, said, “Discarded footwear often takes a long time to decompose, contributing to environmental pollution. Collecting and reusing unused footwear is a valuable step towards protecting the environment, while donating it to underprivileged children serves a noble social cause. We consider it a privilege to be part of this meaningful initiative.”
The campaign led by Avinash Kamath is being organised in association with GreenSole Foundation, which works towards sustainability. The initiative seeks to give used footwear a new purpose through reuse and help make footwear accessible to people who need it.
Senior social worker Vishwanath Shenoy, director of Janatha Group Rakshit Kunder, principal of MGM College Udupi Dr Gayathri Pai, vice-principal of MGM College Dr M Vishwanath Pai, president of Govardhanagiri Souharda Co-operative Society, Mangaluru Nishan Krishna Bhandari, and others were present on the occasion.
Organizers have appealed to the public to participate in the drive by donating their unused footwear and contributing to the cause of social welfare and environmental sustainability.