Monday, September 28, 2009

Teacher Steps up Shoe Charity Drive

A school is a natural place to collect used shoes for charity: Children outgrow them so fast there's a steady supply.

Language arts teacher Barbara Swier at Turlock Junior High in Modesto, CA was looking into recycling shoes and found Soles4Souls. Swier learned that 300 million children worldwide are without shoes and she wanted to help.

"These children are walking everywhere barefoot, often over rocky soil," Swier said. "What happens to them in the winter?"

Swier set up boxes in her classroom and the school's office and started putting out the word. A local Federal Express office will ship the shoes for free to the Soles4Souls' Western warehouse.

Swier said gently used shoes of all sizes and styles are needed. The Turlock Junior High is located at 3951 N. Walnut Road. People can drop off shoes from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

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