shoes

I regularly check a website called incourage, and this morning's post highlighted an organization called Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that collects new and gently used shoes to give to the many around the world who do not own a single pair of shoes.

"Each year, Americans throw away at least 300 million pairs of shoes, which end up rotting in our own landfills. Meanwhile, the U.S. government estimates that 300 million children around the world have never owned a pair of shoes." ~from the Soles4Souls 2008 Annual Report

Mark and I read this article on the Soles4Souls website tonight (because we choose all things romance on our 8th anniversary) and were leveled yet again by another account of the horrendous condition that the people of Haiti find themselves in. We would recommend that you read it, too - even if it isn't your anniversary - and then take some time to pray pray pray for the people of Haiti. Take some time also to consider how many pairs of shoes you have and how you could easily make a difference by donating some of those shoes. The Soles4Souls website has a page that, when you enter your zipcode, shows you the nearest drop-off center. (Call ahead: some stores are only collecting in certain months; other stores will tell you ahead of time who to ask for.)

(And if you happen to live near us out here in the boonies a bit removed from drop-off centers, we will be your drop-off center. A number of participating locations are actually along routes that we take regularly to visit doctors and family.)