Local physical therapists hope Midlanders will give their used shoes to help people in need to mark National Physical Therapy Month. Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists offices in Midland and Coleman will collect gently-worn shoes to be donated through Soles4Souls Inc.
According to the charity, they ship the shoes to people in need in 125 countries, including victims of natural disasters and people living in extreme poverty. Midland physical therapist Ajay Middha said feet issues can cause problems in other parts of the body, so it seemed like a good fit to support a charity that provides footwear to people who might otherwise go without it.
For the month of October, well collect all the shoes and ship them out to help people who need them, Middha said. We throw them in the Dumpster and they go to the landfill, so why not use them for something that can help? Drop boxes are located at Physical Therapy & Rehab Specialists offices in Eastlawn Plaza, 841 S. Saginaw Road; 555 Building, 555 W. Wackerly Suite 500, Midland Community Center, 2205 Jefferson Ave.; and Railway Family Center, 991 E. Railway in Coleman. The collection is part of an effort to educate people about physical therapy. This year, we decided to give back, Middha said. Why not give it to kids who dont even wear shoes?
Soles4Souls gives a pair of shoes away every nine seconds, with 5.5 million pairs donated to date. More shoes are always needed for distribution, and Soles4Souls estimates that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes lying in their closets. We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world, one pair at a time, said Soles4SoulsFounder and CEO Wayne Elsey. We need our partners in Midland to STEP UP and get behind our call for action. Its one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someones life in the most difficult of times, he said.
People and companies wishing more information can visit the organizations website at www.giveshoes.org.
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