Shoe Drive for Children in San Antonio Sacatepequez Guatemala
People of rural Guatemala do a LOT of walking. They walk to school, to a job, to the fields, to a water source, etc. And, the roads are not always paved. Often they are dirt paths. Shoes take a beating! This photo depicts the average condition of a pair of shoes in the rural village of San Antonio Sacatepequez. The kids there need new shoes!
The boys would like athletic shoes, and the girls want “zapatillas” (flats). In both cases, black would be a first choice but otherwise there is no color preference.
Here is a snippet of my spreadsheet that shows how many pair are needed for both boys and girls, and the sizes needed. I will update the spreadsheet regularly to let you know the sizes still needed. Can you help?
We are happy to take used shoes if they are very gently used. We want to take new/newer shoes to maximize longevity!
The “right” opportunity arose when I learned about a travel opportunity for adoptive families which would include volunteer work and cultural sightseeing. Being members of that team had a profound impact on me, Lillian and Andrew. Not only were we able to make a real connection to our son’s birthplace, but we met incredibly warm and generous people, all of whom we now consider to be a part of our “family.” In addition to the volunteer work I shared with the Team, I also was able to “give back” by performing as my alter ego, “Farfel the Clown” at a barbecue for children of The Backyard School. It will remain one the proudest and happiest memories of my life.