Shoes for Orphan Souls

Shoes Cheerleaders in the Rotary Clubs of District 6040 –

 

Two months to go!  This is a February 2026 edition of my commitment to encourage you on the 25th day of (nearly) each month, to help keep the Shoes for Orphan Souls project “top-of-mind”.  This is our 25th year anniversary of benefitting orphan and vulnerable children by collecting new shoes – a milestone that makes us proud.  Sorry to have missed my connection with you on January 25.

 

Remember, the 2025-26 roadmap is as follows.  I have sent reminders of “Larry’s Target” which sets a goal for each of our clubs as we strive to collect 25,000 pairs of shoes.  And we will ask our partner in Dallas, Buckner International, to find a corporate match of another 25,000 pairs of shoes.  To collect 50,000 pairs of shoes in our 25th anniversary year.

Today I want to outline a first draft of “Shoes Week” in District 6040 – the week of April 20-25, 2026 – including a first draft of our “Anniversary Shoes Caravan” and our Shoes Celebration at the upcoming District Conference.  My thanks to District Governor Jodi Sundaram and to Shoes Caravan Sculptor John Gill.

 

  1. For the 25th anniversary caravan, we are bringing back the 53’ semi-trailer!!!   This involves sincere thanks to John Gill for his willingness to drive the semi-trailer.  I have committed my entire week to seeing each of you on the 25th anniversary caravan.  Our shoes caravan team wants to make this smooth for your club.
  2. The caravan route looks to be a 10-15 stop caravan.  Given that John is driving a semi-trailer (remembering this is not his day job!!), we will not be going to every community – I trust you will respect this fact and hope many clubs will be willing to transport their shoes regionally.
  3. The caravan stops will be longer at each stop, and we have discussed making each caravan stop a “hub celebration” that could even include a different-looking Rotary Club meeting – perhaps at a City Park in the communities that will be listed below. 
  4. To the point that if your clubs wanted to replace your regular club meeting during the week of April 20-24 by coming to the “hub celebration” outlined for you, we would encourage you to do so.
  5. The following draft details are submitted for your consideration, and as always, you know you can contact me and we will attempt to work out individual club circumstances.
  6. It is possible we can coordinate smaller trailers to pick up shoes as needed.
  7. So, let’s see how this SHOES WEEK draft caravan route looks --- reach out to me about timing and location details and whether this is the best hub for your club and any questions and improvements (and getting media coverage at each stop):

 

  • Monday, April 20 – KIRKSVILLE – 4:30pm-6:00pm – possibly Dukum Inn, possibly Klinginsmith Amphitheatre.
  •  Tuesday, April 21 – MACON – 9:00am-10:30am – possibly Comfort Inn parking lot, possibly fairgrounds
  • Tuesday, April 21 – MARCELINE – 11:30am-1:00pm – location TBD
  • Tuesday, April 21 – CHILLICOTHE – 2:00pm-4:00pm – location TBD
  • Wednesday, April 22 – BETHANY – 8:00am-10:00am – location TBD
  • Wednesday, April 22 – LIBERTY – 11:30am-1:30pm (at normal club meeting location of Governor Jodi? Location?)
  • Wednesday, April 22 – RICHMOND – 2:30pm-4:30pm – location TBD
  • Thursday, April 23 – KCI AIRPORT – 9:00am-11:00am – location TBD
  • Thursday, April 23 – LEES SUMMIT – Noon-2:00pm (at normal Lees Summit meeting location at Unity Village?)
  • Thursday, April 23 – ST. JOSEPH – 3:00pm-5:00pm – location TBD
  • Thursday, April 23 – TRAVEL TO LIBERTY to overnight semi-trailer (Vocational Services Industries)
  • Friday, April 24 – using small trailers as we’ve done in last few years, this is a work in progress.(GLADSTONE; KC; KC Plaza)
  • Saturday, April 25 – DISTRICT CONFERENCE – ROTARY YOUTH CAMP – LEES SUMMIT, MO

                                                                         

Your 25-year Shoes Cheerleader,

 

Rotary International President-nominee Larry Lunsford