Our District’s annual Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive led by our Shoes Cheerleader, Larry Lunsford, contributed a total collection this year 10,180 pairs of new shoes for vulnerable children. The shoes and over 12,000 pairs of socks, were picked up by the Rotary District 6040 caravan and shipped to nonprofit Buckner International. More than $32,000 in cash donations were also received. The shoes will be sorted and distributed by Buckner to children in countries like Guatemala and Dominican Republic.
The shoes collected during the drive will provide hope for children living in orphanages and impoverished communities where Buckner International offers a variety of holistic services. Through foster care, empowerment programs, transitional care and humanitarian aid, Buckner International supports children and families in countries such as the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Mexico and Peru.
About Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls:
Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls®, the largest humanitarian aid project of Buckner International, provides new shoes and socks to orphans and vulnerable children in the United States and throughout the world. Since 1999, Buckner Shoes has collected and distributed nearly 5 million pairs of new shoes, serving children in more than 80 countries. Thirty percent of the shoes benefit children living in the U.S.
Our District since Larry Lunsford started this in 2001 has collected $395,034 Shoes, 58, 310 Socks, 27,564 Laces and over $266,126.00 in funds. Thank you to all our Rotarians in District 6040 for your efforts this year and to Larry Lunsford for starting this great International Project for our District!