Members of the Capelables, a student spirit organization for the OU basketball team, endured the rain on Saturday to help collect shoes for their shoe drive at the Lloyd Noble Center.

The drive was part of a project called "Shoe Dump," organized by an Oklahoma City middle schooler named Aurell Bloomer. It will benefit the Maisha International Orphanage in Kenya.

The Capelables help advertise for upcoming games and set up the student section before tip-off. Last month, the group discussed the shoe drop and decided to do one before a home game. Alyssa Loveless, Spanish sophomore and secretary for the organization, helped arrange the drive. Loveless said in addition to their regular spirit activities for the basketball team, the organization also likes to give back to the community.

The drive lasted until 4:30 p.m. Saturday so students attending the 5 p.m. game against Kansas State could participate. They chose a later game so students would have time to drop off their donations, but the weather kept the group from raising the amount they’d hoped for, Loveless said.

While the group came to the drive prepared with decorated posters and boxes, the rain interfered. All shoes were collected in the trunk of her car, so they wouldn’t get wet, Loveless said.

Loveless attended Bloomer’s lecture at the President’s Community Scholars leadership summit last month. Bloomer and Maisha International Orphanage founder Beatrice Williamson spoke about the project and why Bloomer decided to start it. Loveless said she was impressed by the presentation, and wanted to do what she could to help.

“I mean for a sixth grader, he’s funny, he’s so cute," Loveless said, "and I was just like ‘Wow he’s in sixth grade and he’s doing this and we’re in college so we can surely help out.'”

Bloomer started the project after a visit to Kenya with Williamson, a family friend. During his visit, he played soccer with the children at the orphanage. The majority of the kids didn’t own a pair of shoes, and looked at Bloomer’s in amazement. Williamson said Bloomer felt sorry about it, and wanted to help. Bloomer decided he wanted to raise shoes for those at the orphanage so that they could have their own. Thus, the “Shoe Dump” project was born. The name originated from Bloomer’s nickname among family and friends, dumpling.

The Capelables decided to help with the project by holding their own shoe drive this weekend. The group’s Facebook page for the drive said, “A good rule of thumb is if you haven't worn a certain pair of shoes in over a year-you probably never will again.” The group had 12 pairs of shoes donated on Saturday, but Loveless said they may wait until a later date and try again.

Matthew Bradley, broadcast journalism senior, is a member of the Capelables. Bradley donated a pair of shoes he said he hadn’t worn in more than a year.

Austin Kipp, an incoming freshman, is involved with the organization, and volunteered his time at the collection on Saturday. Kipp said the project is a simple way to help others.

“I wouldn’t have thought to donate my shoes for the Kenyan orphans if it hadn’t been for him,” Kipp said.

The project accepts shoes of all sizes. There is a drop-off box at Mark Heitz Chevrolet for those interested in donating.

Bloomer has already met his goal to raise 10,000 pairs of shoes. He will travel with Williamson and a team of student volunteers to Kenya this summer to deliver them.