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Knox Rotary Club Kicks Off Annual Shoe Drive

The Knox County Rotary Club is again collecting new shoes, socks, shoelaces and monetary donations for the annual Rotary District 6040 Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive.

Last year, the club raised $230, 61 pairs of shoes, 41 pairs of socks and six pairs of shoe laces, which were sent to children in Guatemala.

This year, they are hoping to surpass last year’s total and double donations from Knox County.

The Rotary District 6040 encompasses northern Missouri and has contributed over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in impoverished for the last 16 years in a row. This year marks the 17th annual shoe drive for the district.

The Shoes Caravan, which travels throughout the district to collect shoe donations, will be making its way through the northern tier of the state on April 26 and 27 on the way to Macon, MO, where the annual District Assembly will be held on April 28.

During the assembly, clubs from throughout the district will have the chance to stand up and be recognized for their shoe drive efforts. With this year’s assembly is being held so close to home, the Knox County Rotary Club hopes to arrive with a mountain of shoes to contribute to the cause.

Donations for this year’s effort will be going to children in Guatemala and Peru. Organizers are also hoping to distribute shoes in hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico.

The importance of a good pair of shoes is often taken for granted. In poverty-stricken communities a pair of shoes can mean access to education, lower the risk of injury and infection and greatly increase a child’s feeling of self-worth.

The Knox County Rotary Club is reaching out to ask community service groups, churches, schools, daycares, businesses and families to donate a pair of new tennis shoes to this worthy cause.

All shoe sizes are accepted and needed by children who have near nothing. Savvy shoppers can find amazing deals and discounts on shoes and acquire them very inexpensively.

Donations may be dropped off at the Citizens Bank of Edina, the United State Bank in Edina, the Knox County Community Center and The Edina Sentinel office now through April 25, 2018.

For more information, please contact any Knox County Rotary Club member.

It’s amazing to have the opportunity to positively impact a life for the better with something so simple as a new pair of shoes. By donating to this effort, you can.