Shoes 2 Share: A Challenge

We just got our new Clubhouse Jr magazine in the mail. I flipped through it while the kids were playing to see if there was a fun craft or story. A story about a little girl named DeeDee stopped me. DeeDee and her brother were adopted from Haiti 6 years ago. When their adoptive parents came to Haiti, they brought a suitcase full of extra shoes to give to people that might need them. The next time they came to Haiti, those same people were at the airport waiting for them to bring more shoes!

This inspired them to begin a ministry called Shoes 2 Share. They collect shoes and ship them all over the world to give to those in need! Clubhouse, Jr. is partnering with Shoes 2 Share and is challenging kids to donate 2000 pairs of shoes!

I read DeeDee’s story to Lydia today and had to hold back tears. Not so much about the shoes…it’s not a new thing or even a “big” thing to donate shoes. But to think about little kids getting involved and making things happen around the world got me excited. Doing small things to make a big difference is something I want my kids to understand!

My family is going to join this challenge. Here’s what we are going to do:

Our neighborhood is having a Yard Sale the second weekend of June. I’m going to make a flyer/poster and deliver it to everyone in our neighborhood. This flyer will give a little info about the Shoes 2 Share Challenge. Then I’m going to ask them to do 1 of 3 things:

1. Donate their shoes to our collection. (I’ll probably give everyone a bag.)

2. Make sure they put shoes in their yard sale with a flyer that says “Buy these shoes and donate them to Shoes 2 Share”. The customers can buy the shoes and leave them in a specially marked bag.

3. Leave all donated & leftover shoes by their mailbox after the yard sale and I’ll pick them up.

I think it might work!

Then I’ll box my shoes up and send them to Shoes 2 Share and Clubhouse Jr. But I don’t want to stop there–I want YOU and YOUR KIDS to join this challenge! Here’s what I’m asking YOU…

1. Talk to your kids about this challenge. Read the story about DeeDee and her family.

2. Figure out a way you can collect some shoes together. Go door-to-door. Clean out your closets. Set up a box at the front of your local shoe store. Volunteer to clean out your friend’s house and snag all their shoes. Hit up the thrift stores on 50% off day and buy all the shoes. Ask stores to donate. Or come up with something even better!

3. Collect your shoes and follow the instructions from Clubhouse Jr to send your shoes to Shoes 2 Share.

4. Blog or facebook about your adventure and leave a link on our Shoes 2 Share Challenge post on August 1, 2010. (Yeah, that’s 2 whole months!  I thought you might need a little time to figure out a good way to collect everything.)

I’m so excited about this! I can’t wait to see how it impacts our family…and yours! Just think–our kids will be doing something super small to make a big difference in the world!

I am not remotely connected to Clubhouse Jr or Shoes 2 Share. They have no idea I posted this. I’m just excited about this challenge.

This post is linked to the amazing Kristen from We Are THAT Family and the “Mom, I’m Bored” Works For Me Wednesday. I don’t think your kids will be bored when they are collecting shoes for kids in Haiti!

photo by mcandrea