I'm due for a new pair of running shoes. Although my current shoes look decent (a bit dusty perhaps), they have exceeded their mileage and I'm starting to train for an upcoming race. But unlike previous pairs, this time I'm committed to helping the environment and helping others by donating my running shoes.

There are many organizations that will gladly take your running shoes and give them to someone in need. If you're like me, you may think to yourself, "Yuk, who would want my old running shoes." You'd be surprised. We take footwear for granted, but the reality is there are many people who desperately need a quality pair of shoes to protect their feet from scrapes and cuts, as well as contaminants that could lead to serious healthcare issues. Think about the following examples:

• Natural disasters where someone loses their home and belongings without warning

• Homeless people who walk the streets 365 days a year

• People who must sort through landfills to find the means to survive and have no protection for their feet

• Children in orphanages around the world who have never had a pair of shoes

A few organizations that take used running shoes include Soles4Souls, Shoe4Africa, One World Running, The Shoe Bank, Heart & Sole and Sole Responsibility.

If you are apprehensive about donating shoes for someone else to wear, you have a couple other great options. Nike has a shoe recycling program whereby they grind up your shoes and use the materials to produce playgrounds, basketball courts, tracks and more. They have more than 300 drop off points around the county.

Additionally, I just came across a great promotion from Epinions.com that lasts through the rest of the year and only takes three minutes of your time. For every shoe review on their site, Epinions will donate $5 to Soles4Souls to buy shoes for those in need. It doesn't get much easier than that, and it's not just limited to running shoes.

So rather than tossing your old running shoes in the trash, consider making a positive impact in the world by donating them!