About a month ago, while walking around the Chicago loop during my work day, I noticed a homeless man walking barefoot. I instantly went to the nearest store that carried shoes, and bought him a pair. Unfortunately, the man's feet were so swollen and bloodied that he informed me that he needed a special pair of shoes located at too far of a distance for me to walk. I told him that I would find him on the weekend and we would go get the shoes. Sadly, I haven't been able to find him on any of the subsequent weekends, but if I do, I fully intend to get him shoes. It has actually been eating me up thinking that someone is walking around with no shoes. Then I started thinking about how many people both in the US and world wide that either have no shoes, or inadequate shoes, and suffer because of it. What compounded my feelings, and made me feel even worse, is that I took a look in my closet and noticed that I had a number of pairs of shoes just sitting there not being worn. Continuing with this week's theme of donating things from around the house, and for today's random act of kindness, I will be donating shoes to Share Your Soles. SYS is a non-profit organization here in Chicago that, for the past 13 years, has been providing donated shoes to impoverished people both here and abroad. There are a number of great organizations similar to Share Your Soles all around the United States and overseas, so if you find yourself with an overabundance of shoes (like Imelda Marcos, DJ Pauly D, or my wife), and would like to donate them, you can find a place with ease.
I'm going to do this! I definitely have shoes I could donate! And I found a nice pair of men's dress shoes in my son's closet the other day that I bought for him to wear in a professional portrait and he never wore them again! I'm sure that someone could use those. Thanks for inspiring me. I love your blog and what you're doing. You are making the world a better place.
ReplyDeleteWow, that story was so sad! I've been retweeting your acts on Twitter. Keep on keeping on!
ReplyDeleteAlissa
ripleyadoption.blogspot.com
I think I can do this, I do have a closet full of unused shoes, great idea!
ReplyDelete~Mo
www.mokekumileicreations.com
i found your blog through blogs of note, and love it. May I direct you to a man named Danny wallace and his join me project. YOu may have heard of him, if you havent you must read his book about join me its so funny and i think would be right up your street.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work and ill look forward to reading your posts.
serena
I saw a man so skinny & malnourished sitting in front of an IHOP with a sign that said I am hungry so I bought him a stack of pancakes & some bacon, but when I went out to give it to him the police that had been eating inside had already shewed him away & I could not find him. It was last winter & so cold out there & he was shivering. I hope they actually hauled him in so he was at least in a jail bed with food & shelter. It was so sad & I normally don't help those with signs because I see the same exact wording all around town & in clean fresh clothes but he was so obviously in need.
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