Harmony woman collects shoes for Balkan children
HARMONY — An item of apparel taken for granted by Americans will warm the feet of Balkan children, thanks to a member of Grace Church of Harmony.
Kelsey Shever of Ellwood City is collecting shoes as she prepares to travel in November to a Latvian orphanage, where she will likely see the Harmony shoes on the feet of the grateful youths.
Shever, 27, heard about the Shoes for Orphan Souls program through a Christian radio station in New Castle, and before long, a plan was afoot. Shever asked her fellow church members to donate new shoes to be delivered to orphanages in Latvia.
The Shoes for Orphan Souls program began in 1999 at a Christian radio station in Dallas before being taken over by the nonprofit group Buckner International. The program has distributed more than 1.5 million pairs of shoes to disadvantaged children worldwide.
One of the greatest and most immediate needs of orphans, according to www.buckner.com, is shoes. Many orphaned children receive one pair of shoes to last the entire year, and some children don't have any shoes at all.
Shever said only new shoes can be accepted because of a customs rule prohibiting used shoes from crossing national borders.
Shever hopes to get 100 pairs by the July 29 deadline.
Shever said school shoes, sandals, warm boots and sneakers are the main items needed. She also sent a letter to other Zelienople and Harmony churches asking them to participate in the shoe drive.
"I wanted to help out these orphans and show them that we love them and God loves them," said Shever.
Although Shever had only 70 pairs of shoes as of this week, she has faith that she will reach her goal of 100 pairs. She said she would like to see the donation of more large-sized shoes, as the orphanage houses teenagers as well as small children. Shever explained the shoes will be delivered to Cleveland and shipped from there.
Grace Church's pastor, Peter Everett, said he is unsurprised by Shever's initiative in instituting the shoe drive at the church and in the community. Everett said Shever has a history of proving her faith at the church, which is located on Main Street in Harmony.
"We're really proud of her," said Everett. "She wants to serve Jesus, so she has a plan and she's going to carry it out."
Everett described Shever as "always helpful and always involved" in activities at Grace Church. He said the shoe drive was kicked off at the end of June during the nondenominational church's vacation Bible school.
Everett said children attending the weeklong event brought in money, which was counted and charted so the tots could see how many pairs of shoes their collective donations would purchase.
Those wishing to donate shoes can drop them off at Grace Church during regular business hours or on Sunday until July 29.
