PAWS Animal Shelter is conducting a shoe-collection drive now through Sept. 11. Funds2Orgs will pay the shelter 40 cents per pound of shoes.

All donated shoes will be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of micro-enterprise partners in developing nations in Central America and Africa. Funds2Orgs helps impoverished people start, maintain and grow businesses.

PAWS is accepting gently worn, used or new shoes at the shelter, 1535 W. US. Route 36, just west of Urbana. Other Urbana sites collecting shoes for PAWS are the Champaign Family YMCA, Community Drive; The Coffee Depot, 644 Miami St.; Champaign County Library, 1060 Scioto St.; and Melvin Miller Park’s pool area.

“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Robbin Ferriman, PAWS trustee. “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like donate to us and help those less fortunate become self-sufficient. It’s a win-win for everyone.”