Outpouring of football boots from Greenhithe and beyond

Tracy Benge and son Max with their collection of 100 pairs of boots and footwear, which were donated to the Red Cross.

When Tracy Benge put the word out she was looking for second-hand football boots for those in need, she could have never imagined such an outpouring of community support.

Within a couple of days of a story running in North Harbour News in July that she was collecting boots for kids without, the mum of three says it’s been a “steady stream” of donations since.

Around 100 pairs of boots and other footwear have been donated, with about 20 pairs still new with the price tags on.

The Greenhithe resident says she’s had boots coming from all over the area, including Devonport and the North Shore.

“I was completely overwhelmed this time,” she says.

“I had people emailing me – complete strangers – asking where to come and drop them off.

“Many times, I would get home to find bags or boxes of boots just left at the front door.”

Benge hit on the idea of collecting boots when she sold one of her sons’ old bikes on TradeMe early in the year.

When the buyer Angela Tuala-Holmes came to pick it up, Benge also offered one of Tuala-Holmes’ sons a pair of boots her own boys had grown out of – and the idea was born.

Benge then contacted the Greenhithe Football Club asking for unused boots, and by April had around 40 pairs of footwear which she and her son Mason, gifted to Ranui Primary School.

This time the boots have gone to the Red Cross, and some have already been given away at the Ethkick West football tournament in Ranui on the weekend.

Red Cross social worker Rosamine Mutamuliza says there have been a “couple of donations” of football boots in the past, but Benge’s is the largest they have received.

“It’s fantastic for us to be able to support the community, the clients we look after, and to enable the children to be able to participate in sports,” she says.

“It’s a great thing to have all these football boots coming at once.”

Benge also says the support from the Greenhithe community has been strong the second time around, with many families doing another clear out.

Although Benge will not be continuing the collection, she would like to see other sports clubs try similar drives.

“It would be great if the benefit of this could be other communities do the same thing and pay it forward.

“I think the biggest challenge for communities and for our generation is reducing waste – this is turning waste into wealth.”

– Stuff