Schuyler Rotary Marks 25 Years Of Shoes For Orphan Souls Effort

For 25 years, Rotary districts across Missouri and beyond have partnered with Buckner International for the Shoes for Orphan Souls project. What started as a small flicker of an idea has grown into a massive movement that has delivered nearly 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in more than 30 countries.

For a child in a vulnerable community, a new pair of shoes can be key to survival and growth. In many parts of the world, soil-transmitted parasites and infections are a daily threat. A sturdy sole is the first line of defense against illness.

Many schools require children to wear shoes to attend. Without them, the classroom door remains closed and the cycle of poverty continues. Shoes can even be a path of hope for children who have never had new shoes — or any shoes at all.

Schuyler Rotary, along with other clubs, collects the shoes, packs the boxes and raises the funds to ensure they reach their destination.

This year marks the project’s 25th anniversary. Schuyler Rotary is doing its part to help both the local community and others around the world. Chairperson Virginia Griswold said, “Our club has donated thousands of shoes over the years and intends to continue to do so.”