News updates are sent daily. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Disabled Mesa woman's goal: no barefoot children
Digg|
Save|
License|
Print|
E-mail|
A disabled Mesa woman has launched a grass-roots effort to recycle children's shoes and put them on the feet of children in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as needy kids in Arizona and elsewhere.
DonnaChristine Park has started "Walk a Mile in My Shoes ... On the Path to Peace," a project that began with a comment she heard from a woman from Central Arizona Blue Star Mothers and the Military Moms Support Group.
Vianna Bruce told Park about what she had learned from one of the military mothers. The woman's son, a medic stationed with the military in Afghanistan, told how children walk miles to U.S. military clinics barefoot.
"Before the medics can address their current medical issues, they must first care for their battered feet," Park learned.
"This fact stirred me, and I simply could not get it out of my thoughts," she said. "By morning, the concept of WAMMS materialized." With encouragement from Delaine Collins at Unity of Mesa, Park has mobilized volunteers to help her start collecting and shipping shoes.
"My lingering question over recent years has been how can one little old disabled lady, living on Social Security, help another?" she said. Without transportation or ease of getting out into the community from her mobile home, Park was able to start with USA Skateland, 7 E. Southern Ave., Mesa. Patrons are being encouraged to bring new or gently used shoes there during skating parties.
Notes will be written to recipient children and put into the shoes. Other plans include encouraging sponsorship of 20-inch cube boxes for about $40 for shipping the shoes overseas.
Youth have been recruited to collect shoes at their schools, clubs and neighborhoods.
"I will not quit until every child has a pair of shoes to wear," Park said.
For information, contact Park at (480) 373-5930 or e-mail captainjaja@thejajas.com.
Please add your comments, but follow these guidelines to keep this a safe, credible place for discussing the news: