Donate your shoes!

Active Minds, a group on campus, is creating a “Walk In Their Shoes” display and they need students’ help.

“The shoes will be placed all over campus as a visual of the 1,100 college students that die by suicide each year,” said Maddie Putler, member and co-publicity chair holder.

Last year was the first time Active Minds created this visual and the display was reported to have been seen by 12,000 people. In addition to the display raising awareness for suicide and depression, afterwards the shoes will be donated to a great cause.

“In partnership with Amiee’s Shoes, after our display is taken down, gently used shoes will be donated to those less fortunate. By donating shoes, you will be making a difference in someone’s life,” Putler said. “If we get more than the amount of shoes that we are asking for then we will just have more to donate.”

While Suicide Awareness Month is technically September, Active Minds chose to push back the display to October so that it can raise the same level of awareness as last year’s.

Shoes can be donated throughout the month of September. However, the group is hoping to meet its goal of 1,100 pairs of shoes by the third week of September.

“Active Minds at Wayne State College is a group that advocates, educates and works to eliminate the stigma associated with mental health and mental illness,” Putler said.

Keep on the lookout for the “Walk In Their Shoes” display during the month of October.

Shoes can be dropped off at Haven House Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m., at the Wayne Public Library, or Norfolk Quality Dry Cleaners Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5:30 pm., and Saturday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1111 Riverside Blvd.