Ossian Rotary has collected more than 3,000 pairs of used shoes to repurpose them to those in need over the past three years.
This year’s annual shoe collection is beginning now, in conjunction with the nonprofit organization Changing Footprints.
As its mission, Changing Footprints realizes the great need for shoes around the world as protection from diseases and a gateway to education. Shoes in any condition are collected for homeless, disaster-stricken, or underprivileged people locally, nationally, and internationally regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity. Even damaged or single shoes are converted to playground material.
The organization collects and redistributes 60,000 pairs a year and, on average 80 percent of the shoes collected are redistributed in Indiana, although shipments of shoes were also recently sent to Ukraine to help those in need there.
Shoe collection bins are located at Ossian Elementary School, First Baptist Church of Ossian, Farmers and Merchants Bank in Ossian, Ossian Church of the Nazarene, Ossian Health Communities, and Rod’s Rustics on Main Street. Shoe pairs should be tied or bagged together.
Ossian Rotary holds weekly meetings Thursday mornings at 7:30 at the First Baptist Church of Ossian, 1001 Dehner Drive on the north side of Ossian.
Anyone is welcome to attend. Please call 260-402-8272 or email jeffkeplar@gmail.com with questions.
