Got Sneakers? Avengers’ Rylee Shunney Will Take Them

Rylee Shunney could use your help.

Actually, she just needs your footwear.

No, she doesn’t expect you to go barefoot. But if you have any spare sneakers or cleats hanging around your closest, she certainly wouldn’t mind taking them from you.

The East Greenwich High senior, a star runner for the Avengers’ track and cross-country teams, has been involved in a number of different charities with her sisters. Bryn and Logan. Now, she’s conducting one of her own. It’s one that seems to make sense, considering what she’s done during most of her after-school hours (and weekends) the last four years.

Shunney is spearheading a fundraiser in her community (and beyond) that’s known nationally as gotsneakers? How does it work? It’s simple. At several different locations, including her high school, the AMP Training Center, Cole Middle School and some upcoming track meets, she’ll have drop boxes where you can donate your old sneakers and cleats. For each one that is donated, money will be raised for the cause depending on the condition of the footwear.

Why sneakers? Why cleats?

It’s actually two-fold. It will not only save the environment, but will help the less fortunate.

According to the organization’s website, “Most people throw away their used shoes every 125-200 days without even thinking about recycling. Since sneakers are manufactured with materials that are not biodegradable, they remain in landfills or are incinerated, which leads to toxic chemicals in our soil. The process of manufacturing sneakers produces large amounts of CO2, which contributes to the serious effects of climate change and global warming. Recycle and reusing sneakers keeps sneakers out of landfills, reduces the need for manufacturing new shoes and sneakers, and supports a growing circular economy.”

For shoes that are used strictly for recycling, 25 cents will be donated to the cause. Shoes considered in excellent condition and can be reused, will raise $7. The money collected from the footwear will be used to buy new shoes for those in need.

“Realistically,” Shunney said, “I need one bag of shoes (20-30) donated for every new pair I want to buy,”

The EG standout, who this past weekend captured the 1,500m and 800m at the Southern Division Championships, offered more reasoning behind her fundraising efforts with gotsneakers.

“I live in a town where the majority of people can afford not only simple things, but expensive things,” she said. “The notion that there are people in my own state that can’t afford what I take for granted is unfair. As a runner, I go through sneakers, expensive ones, quite often and I know there are people that are wearing hand-me-down athletic wear. I am not naive enough to think I can solve everyone’s financial issues but running, sports, and therefore sneakers are a huge part of my life. So if you are going to try and make a difference in some way, it might as well be something that also means something to you. My sisters and I have been trying to help out in small ways like this since we were young, collecting and donating to Hasbro, PeacePassers, WWF, American Cancer Society, Kaboom and RIIL peanut butter express, to name a few”

Since the fundraiser began two weeks ago, Shunney has collected more than 100 pairs of sneakers and cleats.. She has a goal of reaching 500 by the deadline of May 31.

“Everyone has been very receptive to helping out,” she said. “It’s a fundraiser that costs you nothing! Empty out your garages and closets!!”

In addition to the aforementioned locations, as of now there will also be drop boxes on site at this Saturday’s Mariner Invitational at Narragansett, the Class B Championships at Portsmouth on May 20 and the JV and Freshmen Boys’ and Girls’ State Meets, scheduled for May 22, May 23, May 30 and May 31. Please help support a great cause.

“This is also a great way to help the environment,” Shunney said. “Our landfills are overflowing, keeping all these sneakers out of the landfill, recycling them or reusing them is a no brainer.”