When Atlantic Southeast Airlines set out to collect 3,500 shoes for victims of the earthquake in Haiti, the company didn’t know the Gainesville branch alone would come close to meeting the goal.
The airline is collecting shoes as part of Soles4Souls’ larger campaign to donate 1 million shoes to earthquake victims.
With help from the Gainesville Police Department, Rotary Club and other organizations, ASA has collected more than 2,500 shoes.
Kenneth Williams, Gainesville’s ASA station manager, said the most important donations come from individual community members dropping off shoes at the airport.
“They don’t say much,” he said. “They just smile, carry their valuable cargo to the boxes and donate.”
The 10-day shoe drive ends today, and anyone who wants to donate shoes can bring them to the Delta terminal at the Gainesville Regional Airport from 8 a.m. to 5.p.m.
