Shoes for Orphan Souls Kicks Off 2002 Shoe Drive; Annual Charitable Campaign Looks to Collect Over 100,000 Donated New Shoes.

Features Editors

Buckner Orphan Care International is urging Americans once again to take steps to help orphan children around the world through its annual Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive during the month of August.

Buckner Orphan Care International's (BOCI) Shoes for Orphan Souls is an annual nationwide program that seeks donations of new shoes, socks and shoelaces from individuals, corporations and civic groups to distribute to disadvantaged orphan children in the United States and around the world.

Last year's shoe drive collected more than 500,000 shoes. Recipients of donated shoes include orphans from Afghanistan, Belize, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cuba, Ethiopia, Egypt, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Romania, Russia, United States, Uganda, and Ukraine.

Buckner works with participating churches, civic groups, individuals and businesses to collect the shoes and socks during the primary drive in August.

"We have been extremely blessed in our efforts to help meet some of the desperate needs of orphan children around the world," said Tiffany Taylor, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls. "But unfortunately, the need among orphanages only continues to grow. That is why it's more important than ever for us to spread more blessings and God's word to our less fortunate brothers and sisters."

Recently, more than 14,000 pairs of shoes and 6,400 pairs of socks were sent to the largest refugee camp in Afghanistan through a partnership between BOCI and Feed the Children. Afghanistan marked the 21st country to be served by the Shoes for Orphan Souls program.

"We believe that no child should go without a pair of new shoes," Taylor emphasized, adding that the program is always looking to expand its territories.

Taylor said that although the back-to-school shopping season in August is the primary collection period, Shoes for Orphan Souls has become a year-long campaign thanks to many groups holding their own drives throughout the year all over the country.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to donate shoes, socks and shoelaces for the drive, or cash gifts of $25 to pay for shoes and distribution costs. Donated items should be for children ages birth-18 and, due to customs regulations, the shoes and socks should be brand new. Warm shoes and winter boots are especially needed.

Volunteers also are being sought to sort shoes at several locations or to travel to deliver the shoes to orphans. Volunteers experience the "souls" part of the project by personally ministering to the children. Orphanage visits are filled with spiritual and physical work, often creating a vacation bible school-type and other programs to share the love of God. Tentative trip dates are: China, Oct. 10-22; Romania, Jan. 2-12; St. Petersburg, Russia, Nov. 7-17; and Vladimir, Russia 7-17. All trips include coach airfare from Dallas, hotels, meals, transportation, travel insurance, visas, and other necessities, as well as cultural events and sightseeing.

Information about the drive and volunteering locally or internationally is available toll-free at 1-877-7-ORPHAN or at www.shoesfororphansouls.org.

About Buckner Orphan Care International

Buckner Orphan Care International (BOCI) is part of one of the largest Christian organizations of its kind in the nation. Buckner was founded in 1879 as the Buckner Orphan's Home in Dallas, Texas. Today, Buckner has vastly diversified services dedicated to the restoration, care and healing of children, families and senior adults.

The Shoes for Orphan Souls program seeks donations of new shoes, socks and shoelaces from individuals, corporations and civic groups. Since 1999, over 600,000 pairs of new shoes have been distributed to disadvantaged children in the United States and countries around the world that are economically and socially disadvantaged.

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