How many pairs of shoes does it take to get to Europe?
Ashley Deel figures about 2,000 to 2,500, give or take.
Ashley is organizing a trip to France and England from Appleton City in May of 2027. So far, eight students, two teachers plus parents are signed up. It’s not a school trip, she emphasized, although she works as a college and career advisor at Appleton City High School.
The idea? To widen the students’ horizons through travel, like she was able to do.
“Some of the students who are going have traveled, and some haven’t,” she said.
Appleton City is a town in the northwest corner of St. Clair County, bordering Henry and Bates counties. With a population of 1,100 people, it’s the largest town in St. Clair County. Although it’s a very supportive community, Appleton City is not the most culturally diverse place to grow up.
The nine-day trip has been booked through EF Educational Tours, which specializes in student travel. The group will fly to Paris, where they will tour the Louvre and go to Versailles. They will take the train through the Chunnel under the English Channel to London.
“The time in London is shorter than the time in Paris,” Ashley said. “We will tour the Tower of London, see a theater production plus have time for people to wander wherever they want.”
The fact that almost all the students are traveling with a parent gives the travelers the option to choose what they want to see and do, Ashley said. Her son is going with her. The only students not accompanied by a parent are two sisters, one of whom is an adult.
To help cover some of the costs, students are holding a shoe drive. Through Funds2orgs, they are paid by the pound for bags of used shoes, 25 per bag, they collect. The shoes are sent overseas to be cleaned, repaired and resold, creating a source of income in the local economy, providing shoes for people who need them, rewarding the groups who collect the shoes, and sending unused shoes off to a new life.
“Our goal is 100 bags,” Ashley Deel said.
So far, the students’ efforts have has filled more than two bags of shoes. The students will continue to collect shoes through June. Shoes should be wearable and in good condition, but can be any type and size: sneakers, work boots, sandals, high heels, children’s shoes or sports cleats.
“We just got a big donation of men’s work shoes,” she said.
The students set up a big gold collection box in the parking lot of Dusti’s Dance Academy during last weekend’s Appleton City-wide garage sale. The academy was having a dance recital that afternoon, Ashley said.
“Dusti is not only supporting the shoe drive, but is also going on the trip,” Ashley said.
Fund2orgs, based in Orlando, supports nonprofit fundraising efforts, making “Every Step Count,” through sustainable recycling, promoting small businesses in developing nations while reducing waste in landfills.
Ashley worked for an international bank in New York City, and has traveled extensively, including to Sweden for her niece’s christening. She lives in Appleton City because it was where she wants to raise her children, she said. She is the sister of Shellie Unell of 4th Street Fika, a coffee shop.
Ashley and the students hope people will go through their closets and gather up shoes that are just collecting dust in their closet and donate them. To contact her, text 904-864-8820 or drop shoes off at Appleton City High School during school hours.
