Celebrate | Sole Hope III

Our Third Annual Shoe Cutting Party for Sole Hope

My heart was singing last night. Once again, we gathered together to help make shoes for children in Uganda. One of my favorite things about a Sole Hope evening is how much joy there is in the room. A group of people come together from all over and it doesn't matter if they know each other. They are chatting and laughing as they trace, cut and organize jeans. It's beautiful work!

Thank you, Karrilee, for hosting with me. The Atlantic District office, where you work and serve, was a perfect location for us this year. What a blessing!

something I watched | What is Sole Hope?

Sole Hope

Working in Jinja, Uganda offering HOPE, healthier lives, and freedom

from foot-related diseases through education, jobs, and medical relief

Celebrate | Sole Hope II

Our Second Annual Shoe Cutting Party

for Sole Hope

Gathering together

to help make shoes for children

is the perfect thing to do on a Friday evening.

Sole Hope | Grade 1 Volunteers

Last summer, I learned about Sole Hope and wanted to get involved. Friends and I hosted a Shoe Cutting Party that ran over two evenings in October. Folks even helped at home with their friends and family. With 68 volunteers, we traced and cut enough denim for 220 pairs of shoes!

It was exciting when my grade 1 team wanted to get involved as well! Through our involvement with Sole Hope this past year, our students learned what it means to be a volunteer and how to work together to help others.

There may be more teachers who would like to get involved and plan a party with younger students. I am only able to share photos of students on my school weebly, therefore, I am sharing the ideas at From Mrs.D's Classroom. Hope you will visit and find the information helpful!

Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party

Ideas for Young Students

From Mrs.D's Classroom

Celebrate | Sole Hope

Because of many wonderful people,
we are able to help Sole Hope with 220 pairs of shoes!

Celebrate | This & That

The books

A while ago, I saw an idea (probably on Pinterest) for Halloween. Instead of just candy, we gave away books! We set up an old tool box on the porch and filled it with second hand books. It was so much fun!

The drive thru surprise

When going through the A&W drive thru, there was a coupon taped to the speaker for 2 for 1 hamburgers. It was exactly what we were after! How thoughtful!

The tournament results

Both girls won gold at their volleyball tournaments today! A repeat from two weeks ago!

The shoe count

In their homes, folks continue to help trace and cut denim for shoes for Sole Hope! We hope to hit 200 before our parcel heads to North Carolina on November 15th!

Sole Hope | Dear Party Guest

Dear Party Guest,

Last night we came together again to finish up all the great work started on October 3rd! Because of you, we can send enough materials for 140 220 pairs of shoes! We can also help local shoemakers in Uganda with $492! (Please note: The shipping cost was $60. Thank you for mailing it from Maine, Cousin Melodie!)  All together we've had 63 68 people involved in our First Annual Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party! We've ranged from preschoolers to seniors, coming from all over Moncton!

Mr. Nick Smith of Magnetic Hill Hill opened the doors to us at no cost and he spread the word to his families and school district. His wonderful staff  donated $82 through their Friday Jean Day. Isn't it easy to see why everyone loves Magnetic Hill School? 

Thank you for reaching out to help the people suffering from jiggers in Uganda...and please know that your reaching out has also blessed the hearts of many right here.

The Shoe Crew
Carolyn, Cindy, Elizabeth, Karla, Kelly, Loralee, Lisa, Mary-Lynne and Natalie

something I watched | What is is a shoe cutting party?

Sole Hope

Celebrate | Sole Hope

Our First Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party
October 3, 2014

I read a story about Sole Hope on a blog.

Told my friends about it.

They said YES.

We asked if we could have the party at Magnetic Hill School.

Mr. Smith said YES.

We planned and spread the word .

Many said YES.

They came from all over Moncton to trace and cut jeans for shoes.

 
Teammates. Family members. Friends. Classmates. Co-workers. Neighbors.

All saying YES and DOing something to help.

Thank you so much!

Celebrate | Sole Hope

Somehow I ended up at Mindy Roger's blog, "Ink and Paper Heart". I'm so thankful I did. I love the way she writes and what she writes about. It was there at her blog that I read about Sole Hope, an organization that exists to offer "hope, healthier lives and freedom from foot related diseases through education, jobs and medical relief."

On her blog, Mindy wrote:

"Sand fleas (commonly known as jiggers) burrow into the cuts on their little bare feet and lay their eggs.

These egg sacks grow and feed off their hosts. If not removed, the jiggers paralyze and ultimately kill the infected children...

It is preventable. 

If you are like me, you feel too small or too busy or too unequipped to help. 

If you are like me, you are going to love what I am about to tell you:

THERE IS SOMETHING SIMPLE THAT YOU CAN DO

TO HELP SOLE HOPE STOP THIS PROBLEM.

If you can trace, cut and safety pin you can help Sole Hope prevent this needless suffering.

Sole Hope relies on people like us to provide the materials for their shoes.

Using donated denim jeans, people like you and me trace shoe patterns, cut them out and pin them in pairs.

Theses pairs are then mailed to Sole Hope's office in South Carolina and then to Jinja, Uganda where local shoemakers create closed-toe shoes.

These closed-toe shoes are then distributed at jigger removal clinics where jiggers are removed, preventative information

is provided and homes are sprayed with insecticide that kills the jiggers and their eggs.

When I realized that small, busy, unequipped me could do something,

I was inspired to bring Sole Hope to the people in my life."

I knew God wanted me to do something. I emailed some friends with Mindy's posts about Sole Hope and asked if this was something we could do together. The response was exciting and we already have volunteers (21 and counting), a date (October 3), a location (a school) and a second hand store that will help with jean donations!

We're just getting started with our Sole Hope Shoe Party! Or I should say, God is just getting started!

.................................................................................................................

Finding joy in the little and big moments of life!