National Shoe Donation Day2026 · Date · History
DSW/Designer Brands and Soles4Souls identify August 15 as National Shoe Donation Day; the first named observance was in 2025 and current partners continue to use the date.
About National Shoe Donation Day
National Shoe Donation Day is observed on August 15 and encourages the donation of gently worn shoes through a campaign associated with DSW, DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls.
Designer Brands says DSW officially named August 15 as National Shoe Donation Day, and contemporaneous 2025 coverage described that year’s August 15 event as the first.
Why National Shoe Donation Day matters
The campaign links reuse with charitable shoe-donation programs, giving unwanted footwear a second life instead of leaving it unused.
It also sits within back-to-school-season giving, but the observance should not be treated as the origin of shoe-donation work itself; DSW and Soles4Souls had an existing partnership before the named day.
History of National Shoe Donation Day
In 2025, Designer Brands announced that DSW had officially named August 15 National Shoe Donation Day in partnership with DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls.
A contemporaneous Footwear Plus back-to-school interview with DSW said the retailer would celebrate its first National Shoe Donation Day on August 15.
Soles4Souls promoted the August 15 campaign and DSW partnership, reinforcing the organizer and recurring-date trail.
The reviewed sources connect the campaign with back-to-school giving, but they do not provide a formal record explaining why August 15 specifically was selected.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse
Designer Brands says DSW officially named August 15 National Shoe Donation Day.
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse in partnership with the DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls
Public DSW declaration of August 15 as National Shoe Donation Day
First documented observance
A contemporaneous DSW back-to-school interview stated that DSW would celebrate its first National Shoe Donation Day on August 15.
DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls and DSW continued to promote National Shoe Donation Day and the associated Shoe-It-Forward campaign in later public posts.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe National Shoe Donation Day
Donate clean, wearable shoes through a reputable local collection program that explains what it accepts and how donations are used.
Check collection rules before donating; badly damaged or unsuitable footwear can create disposal costs for charities.
Consider whether local shelters, school programs or reuse organizations have specific footwear needs.
Pair donation with a closet review so reusable shoes are redirected before they become waste.
National Shoe Donation Day Facts
National Shoe Donation Day is observed on August 15.
Designer Brands says DSW officially named the day in partnership with DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls.
A 2025 DSW interview described August 15, 2025 as the first National Shoe Donation Day.
The campaign was promoted during the back-to-school season.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Designer Brands — DSW declares National Shoe Donation Day (opens in a new tab)
Original Brand
Soles4Souls (opens in a new tab)
Soles4Souls — National Shoe Donation Day (opens in a new tab)
Charity Partner
Footwear Plus (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is National Shoe Donation Day?
15 August The documented recurrence rule is: 15 August.
Does National Shoe Donation Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is National Shoe Donation Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States / DSW, DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls shoe-donation campaign. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes National Shoe Donation Day?
The reviewed sources identify DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse in partnership with the DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse and Soles4Souls.
Is National Shoe Donation Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United States. Its fuller verified scope is: United States / DSW, DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls shoe-donation campaign.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-09.
When is National Shoe Donation Day?
It is observed on August 15.
Who created National Shoe Donation Day?
Designer Brands says DSW officially named the day in partnership with the DSW Foundation and Soles4Souls.
When was the first National Shoe Donation Day?
Contemporaneous DSW coverage described August 15, 2025 as its first National Shoe Donation Day.
Why August 15?
The campaign is clearly tied to back-to-school-season giving, but the reviewed first-party sources do not state a formal reason for choosing August 15 specifically.
Other observances on August 15
These observances are also listed on August 15, 2027.
Asunción de la Virgen
Spain’s national labor-holiday regulation lists 15 August as Asunción de la Virgen within the national holiday framework.
Founding anniversary of Asunción
Paraguay’s Chamber of Deputies and the Municipality of Asunción mark 15 August as the city’s founding anniversary and identify 1537 as the founding year.
Fundación de Panamá la Vieja / Foundation of Panama Viejo
Panama’s Law 14 of 20 January 1955 recognizes 15 August 1519 as the foundation date of Panama City and declares 15 August each year a holiday for the District of Panama; municipal and herit…
Independence Day
Republic of the Congo laws directly list August 15 as the national holiday, including Law No. 19-2010, which adopts August 15 of every year in commemoration of the proclamation of independe…
Independence Day
The Indian Independence Act 1947 establishes the August 15, 1947 constitutional transition, while current Government of India sources independently verify annual August 15 Independence Day…
National Acadian Day
Government of Canada / Canadian Heritage; celebrated since 1881 and recognized in federal law in 2003