This last Friday I walked into Monticello Middle School and thought it was just a normal day. When I arrived in my classroom, I was told that we would be going to the Auditorium for a speaker. I didn't really think anything of it, but what I saw inspired me. When we walked in and all 300 7th graders were seated, we were introduced to a guy who was talking about shoes. If I didn't know better, I would have thought he had like 500 pairs at his house. Suddenly the conversation turned very serious and he told us that he did not receive his first pair of shoes until he was 12. Devastating was the word that crept into my brain when I heard this. No one should have to go without shoes for 4,380 days, let alone 1. I knew that as a school, we had to do something. Last Friday kicked off (get it because shoes are "kicked off" hahahaha hilarious, okay never mind) the Monticello Shoe Drive. All together the Monticello Middle School has approx 900-1000 students with about 50 staff. Their goal is 3000 pairs of shoes, which is about 3 for every person in the building. I explained to the students that although 3 pairs isn't that many, that some kids would not be bringing shoes and so others had to pick up the slack. I showed them that just by asking their family that they could probably come up with 10-20 pairs of shoes. Individually, I set my own goal at 100 pairs of shoes. I posted a status about the shoe drive on Facebook last week and many of you have already started contacting me about having shoes. My aunt Julie already has brought over a box of shoes and in my closet alone I was able to gather 4 pairs of shoes that I don't wear anymore.
The drive lasts until February 14th so if you have some shoes to donate, contact me through Facebook or Call/Text me @ 763-443-6016. If you live close enough, I will gladly come and grab all the shoes that you are never going to wear anymore. Like I said, no one should have to wait 12 years to receive their first pair of shoes. If you are able to, You may drop the shoes off at Broadway Pizza in Rogers and I will pick them up from there, or you can leave them at my doorstep as well!
***As the shoes are going to Uganda, they ask that no boots be donated. The shoes also do not need to be new. They can be shoes that you don't wear anymore or were going to donate to Goodwill or get rid of.
Here are just some other quick facts about Uganda:
Age Expectancy: 53 (78 in the US)
Average age: 15!!!! (33 in the US)
Infant Death Rate (Per 1000): 63 (6 in the US)
Death from AIDS each year: 64,000 (17,000 in the US) and the population there is about 10x smaller than ours.
As always I thank you in advance for your support and a special thanks to those who have already donated. We still have 11 days left of the drive and so make sure you contact me so I don't miss out on collecting your shoes!
