2007

In many areas of the world, a single pair of recycled shoes
could mean the difference between surviving . . . or not.

Four billion of the planet’s 6 billion people live in conditions inconceivable to the wealthiest 1 billion. In a recent report by the eminent Dr. David Suzuki, he explains there are numerous diseases that infect millions of poor people in developing countries, yet we rarely hear about them. As indicated by the chart, the leading plague of the 3rd World is parasites, with soil-transmitted helminthes (a type of parasitic worm) accounting for a staggering 43.5 million life-years lost.

This entire group of parasites enters the body either through ingestion or by simply walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Because impoverished people have so few resources, they generally live in areas where trash and human waste have made the soil a breeding ground for a variety of lethal organisms. Out of necessity, many children spend their entire day walking barefoot on garbage dumps looking for something to either eat or sell.

As the vast majority of the world’s poor must walk wherever they go, a simple pair of sandals would be of enormous help in an already difficult existence. Any kind of footwear would protect these unfortunate people against soil-borne parasites, as well as cuts, abrasions and infections from being habitually barefoot. Additionally, shoes allow extremely poor people to go the extra distance to where they can obtain food, or water, or shelter, or medical help.

Please help!!

We have access to over 200,000 pairs of neoprene sandals that we can recycle to the barefoot poor. However, in order to do this, we need your help to cover the collection and shipping costs. The spare change in your pocket or purse will be enough to provide a pair of shoes to an impoverished person . . . . and maybe even save their life.

Click here to donate your spare change.

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