Soles4Souls: Goal is to collect 4000 pairs of shoes
by Trinity Gruenberg
Every few years the Verndale Family Life Church puts on a shoe drive in support of Soles4Souls, a charitable organization that distributes shoes to those in need around the world.
The drive began on June 6 with 300-500 pairs of shoes showing up on any given week. They are collected, counted and placed in banana boxes on the stage in the sanctuary for all to see.
They conducted this drive in 2013, 2016 and 2018, with a plan to do this every two years. Their 2018 goal was 2000 pairs of shoes, and they collected over 2600. The goal this year is to collect 4000 pairs of shoes. As of August 3, they had 1639.
The drive will end on August 22 with Barefoot Sunday where the congregation will leave their shoes on the stage and leave the church barefoot.
“They want any type of shoes. Even worn-out shoes will be repurposed,” explained Pastor Tahna Rurup.
From new sandals to worn-out steel toes, to single shoes, they will take them all. . .