CLOSTER—When Ella Grinshpan celebrates her Bat Mitzvah on June 7, she’ll be stepping into the next stage of life with more than just blessings and tradition. She’ll also be surrounded by hundreds—possibly thousands—of pairs of shoes.
Ella, a sixth grader at Tenakill Middle School in Closter, is leading an ambitious community-wide shoe drive to benefit orphans in Israel, while also supporting small business owners in developing countries through a partnership with Funds2Orgs. Her goal: to collect 2,500 pairs of gently worn, used, and new shoes by May 31.
The project is part of her Bat Mitzvah service initiative and reflects the kind of thoughtfulness and drive that defines her.
“I am really excited about our shoe drive,” Ella said. “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us. By doing so, we raise money for children in Israel who lost their parents, and we have the chance to help families in developing nations who need economic opportunities. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Donated shoes can be dropped off at 22 Division St. in Closter, where Ella and her family are already stacking donations into what her mother, Emily Becker-Weidman, calls a “mountain” of fine footwear.
Funds2Orgs will collect the donations and cut a check based on their total weight. The funds will go to benefit children orphaned by the October 7 attacks in Israel.
The shoes themselves will be distributed through a network of micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries, where access to jobs and income is limited. In one case, a budding entrepreneur in Haiti earned enough selling donated shoes to send her son to law school.
For Ella, the project brings together several things she cares deeply about: helping children, supporting small businesses, and connecting to her Jewish heritage.
“She wants to be an entrepreneur one day,” said Emily. “So she loved the idea of helping other small business owners. And she also wanted to help children in Israel because she loves children—and because her aunt was adopted from China, so supporting orphans and helping children find forever families is close to her heart.”
In addition to her charitable streak, Ella is an active and involved student. She loves gymnastics and art, plays soccer, and is a student ambassador and member of the Scripta literary magazine at Tenakill. Her family belongs to Chabad of Closter.
Ella is also excited to have the support of her friends and community as she prepares for her big day. “She’s really proud of this project,” her mom said. “It’s been inspiring to watch.”
Photos of Ella with the growing pile of donations will be shared as the collection progresses. Additional drop-off options may be added as interest grows.
For now, anyone wishing to help Ella reach her goal can drop off shoes (“in pairs, please!”) in good condition at 22 Division St., Closter.