That’s the premise behind an Oct. 2 community-wide shoe collection effort that has UofL Health Care and 11 other health care providers partnering with EDGE OUTREACH and Shoeman Water Projects.
This is how it works: The donated shoes will be resold to provide affordable footwear for people in developing countries or they will be recycled into other products.
Money from the shoe sales will help provide well-drilling rigs, water-purification systems, hand-pump repair and water-related supplies to bring safe, clean drinking water to people in such developing countries as Haiti, Kenya, India, Dominican Republic and Costa Rica.
Many of us have shoes tucked away in our closets that we no longer wear, said Gary Mans, director of communications and marketing at the Health Sciences Center. This is a great opportunity to put them to good use, not only for others to be able to use them, but to also provide clean drinking water where it currently isn’t available. This truly is a win-win-win opportunity, and I hope everyone in the UofL community will take part.
Members of the UofL community can take part not only by donating shoes, but also by volunteering to help at the Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium collection site. People are needed to help set up, tear down and collect shoes. Work is in two-hour shifts starting at 8 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2. To volunteer, call Mans at 852-7504.
The stadium collection site will be by the stadium message board and tunnel under Central Avenue. It is accessible from Gate D-E-J off Floyd Street. It, and other drop-off locations, will be open for donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
EDGE OUTREACH is an international, faith-based, nonprofit organization based in Louisville. EDGE trains, equips and mobilizes ordinary people in sustainable solutions for clean water, health and hygiene and sanitation around the world.