Shoe Drive Helps Homeless Across The Nation

[babylonsister]

Soles4Souls program offers new shoes for Wichita's homeless
BY COURTNEY LOONEY


Kevin Duckett shows his old shoes at the Soles 4 Souls at the Union Rescue Mission, on North Hillside, on Thursday, November 19, 2009, in Wichita.


Kevin Duckett sat in a chair in the hall of the Union Rescue Mission on Thursday night as Jason Tanner measured his foot. Size 13.

"Let's see what we can round up for you," Tanner said as he headed to a storage room filled with boxes of new shoes. "I've got some new socks for you, too."

Duckett, originally from Pittsburgh, was among the first to benefit from a national program that provides shoes for those in need.

Naomi Shields of Advanced Orthopaedic Associates in Wichita has been working for over a year in partnership with Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that holds shoe drives around the country.

"A lot of homeless walk a lot . . . and a new pair of shoes make a huge difference," Shields said.

The Soles4Souls program is known for its contributions during natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina.

Shields said the nonprofit, which is based out of Tennessee, is making an effort to provide shoes for those who need them all over the country.

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[Naturyl]

1. Good work

Many of the homeless do walk a lot. When I was between homes I often walked 5-10 miles a day, and shoes were definitely an issue. Shoes fall apart fast under those conditions, especially second-hand ones.

[boobooday]

2. My feet is my only carriage.

What a great cause. :thumbsup:

[babylonsister]

3. It is. I hope I remember this next year when DU has this kind of

fund drive. A little money would go a long way for this kind of cause.

[boobooday]

4. It seems like a double win

A real practical way to help the homeless, and at the same time, it draws attention to the difficulty of their everyday lives.