Fifty-Five Rotary Clubs in Northern Missouri Collect 15,600 Shoes for Orphan Souls® in the United States, Guatemala and Peru
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PRWEB) June 06, 2018 -- During the recent Rotary District 6040 “Shoes Caravan” conducted on April 25-28 throughout North Missouri, 55 Rotary Clubs in Missouri Rotary District 6040 collected and donated a total of 15,600 pairs of shoes, 4,100 pairs of socks, 750 pairs of shoelaces, and nearly $10,000 for vulnerable children and orphans in the United States, Guatemala and Peru. This humanitarian aid was collected during the a 22-stop Shoes Caravan, starting in Higginsville, MO on April 25 and ending in Macon, Missouri on April 28.
Missouri Rotarians are the largest single contributing organization to the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls campaign to date, collecting a total of 320,000 pairs of shoes and $152,000 in cash since the first shoe drive in 2001.
“Rotary clubs in northern Missouri really opened their hearts to help children in need,” said Rotary leader Larry Lunsford, who has organized the shoe drive since 2001. “A simple pair of children’s shoes can make a big difference in the lives of vulnerable children and orphans.” Rotary Governor of District 6040, Allen Garner, noted that “As Rotarians, we want to provide service to our local community and to people in need around the world.”
United Parcel Service and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway partnered with Rotary District 6040 to provide transportation for the collection, from the final caravan stop in Macon, Missouri to the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid in Dallas, Texas.
“UPS encourages its employees to volunteer and give back to the community in which we live,” said Patrick O’Connell, UPS driver who has helped with this shipment for many years. “Since we are a global company, this project not only helps our community, but also the children of many nations.”
Scott Collins, a representative of the Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls program, said Buckner is “extremely grateful” for the shoe donation this year, as well as for all of the donations they have received from Rotary District 6040 in the past.
“Rotary’s consistency over 17 years has allowed us to send more shoes to children around the world, and ultimately, opened the door for us to share love and care with more children who otherwise wouldn’t receive it,” he said.
“No other organization has had the willpower and vision to involve so many people to make a difference as Rotary has.”
About Bucker International
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. From conducting shoe drives to humanitarian aid trips, Shoes for Orphan Souls offers hands-on opportunities to individuals, groups and organizations wanting to transform lives. Since 1999, Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls has delivered more than 3 million pairs of new shoes to children in 82 countries.
About Rotary
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit Rotary.org for more about Rotary.
Elizabeth Usovicz, Rotary International, Zone 31, http://www.rotary.org, +1 (913) 638-8693, [email protected]
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