Greetings fellow blog readers! I had created a new blog for this project. After finishing our Food Drive in Los Angeles, we were looking to do for something more. A few months ago, we have been pondering about doing a shoe drop somewhere, and in the last few weeks, the project has grown like wild fire. The word got around that we are planning on a Shoe Drop project, and sure enough people joined on board. From Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Santa Clarita, and Tehachapi; shoes came walking in from donors.
Here are some of the stories from the volunteers.
Kisha's Shoe Story: Kisha currently resides in the Socal Region. A few weeks ago, she was in the East coast (Philly), visiting her family for the holidays, she never intended on buying shoes for the kids there. But something about the project that inspired her, she was really motivated to start the project, so she decided to buy shoes in Delaware, which there is no tax there. She drove with her girlfriend to a shoe store with intensions of spending more than $200 for the kids. This was her way of a christmas gift to herself. Now imagine what the airline check in staff would say about your luggage. Fast forward a few days later, sure enough, she had a very funny story about coming to the airport, and checking in her luggage, she was commented on, "You sure you have enough shoes?" She would need to tell you the full story to really get the moment. Maybe she can blog about it later on. We just want to say thank you Kisha!
These shoes have traveled quite a distance, and it doesn't stop there, we plan to head down South of Califonia and donate them to kids. So make sure to follow our story here.
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Jill and Josie's Shoe Story: When the word got around that we were doing a shoe drop, Jill was hooked. She saw some random message on Facebook, and she was already interested. Not within two weeks Jill already had 250 plus shoes collected. I was really amazed on how fast this project was moving. Jill is one of our good friends, always has a positive energy and attitute! One of the nicest people you will ever meet. Her daughter Josie, is like her mom! Two amazing people who is helping to make a difference, even if it's one shoe at a time.
Back to Jill and Josie's shoe story; ever since Jill started putting the word out that she was collecting shoes, she recruited help from her church, and moms from Santa Clarita and Tehachapi area. Every week, Jill was getting phone calls on boxes of shoes ready to be picked up. Once she recieved them, Jill spent hours washing and cleaning them. The project got to be so big, Josie stepped in to help give new life to these donated shoes. Every days since she started to collect, Jill and Josie has been on a mission. Thank you Jill and Josie!
Check out some of our pictures from the shoe collection.
This is such an awesome thing to be a part of! When Jill told me about it I new we had to get involved. No one is more surprised at the outpouring of shoes than me. Jill told us that you were all hoping for at least 100 pairs of shoes and when I prayed about how much we should be involved, if it was personal or if we should open it up to the women of Higher Vision Church I really felt like God said He can do more than we can ever ask or imagine! (Eph 3:20) I totally believed that we would have at least 200 pairs of shoes. We sent out the call to all the women attending our Divine by Design Womens Breakfast and asked that everyone search their closets and bring as many shoes as they could. We had so many pairs of shoes that we didn't have enough rubbermade storage buckets to contain them all! Then I was at work and praying about the shoe drive and just asking God to bless the efforts and stir peoples hearts to give, I felt impressed to open it up to my co-workers. Shoes began to pour in from all over. I had so many pairs that the back of the suburban was filled! Then I received an e-mail from Danna Lyons who is a very active member of the womens ministry and she had also felt moved to open it up the the people who work with her at St Jude's Medical. Once again the outpouring of generosity was overwhelming! She was consumed with bags and bags of shoes! Jill is so amazing!! She picks up the room full of shoes and cleans them all and sorts! So grateful we were allowed to be a part of this and can not wait to see the pictures from Mexico! Just praying for safety and blessing for all involved!!
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