The parents of Highland music students are asking the community to put their best shoe forward.

The parent group is having a shoe drive fundraiser to help with costs for the choir and band students’ trip to New York City this April. The group will send the donated new or gently worn shoes to Funds2Orgs, an organization that will pay them based off the total weight of the shoes. Social enterprise company Funds2Orgs then sends the shoes to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries.

Fundraiser coordinator Kathy Butler explains why they are helping send the music students to New York, “It’s I think a great opportunity for the kids and there’s you know the cost. They’re having to pay for it themselves, it’s not provided by the school or anything. They have to come up with the money to go, so that’s why we’re trying to offset some of those costs by doing some fundraising.” The price per student is $997.

The group’s goal is 2,500 pairs of shoes by December 15. They are accepting almost any kind of shoe besides roller skates and ski boots. The money raised will be divided among the students assisting with the fundraiser. Shoes may be dropped off at Highland High School or Highland Elementary School during school hours, Trinity United Church in Riverside, 620 Monroe St. in Ainsworth, or by contacting Butler at 319-648-5016.