By Jessica Reid
Published: May 4, 2013
Most of us would agree that nothing feels better than kicking off your shoes and going barefoot, especially after a long wet Squamish winter in soggy boots.
But what if you didn’t have the option, because you had no shoes of your own?
For more than 1,000 children living in Barrio San Miguel, Mexico, shoes are a luxury they cannot afford.
As a result, they are at risk of injuring themselves while playing outdoors or walking to school.
They are more likely to contract hookworm infections from walking in filth, and by extension, suffer from anemia, weight loss and stunted growth development.
Squamish resident Kathy Green, who spent many years travelling in Mexico, has decided to put her foot down on this issue.
Working closely with former colleagues, who now reside in Barrio San Miguel, she has personally transported 73 pairs of shoes to Mexican children.
In addition, through her Squamish shoe drives, she has inspired the donation of over 80 pairs of children’s shoes, all of which are now proudly worn by the children of Barrio San Miguel.
“It warms my heart, and I want to do whatever I can to help,” says Kathy Green.
Despite Mexican government red tape, and the possibility of being arrested for smuggling, Kathy and her friends go to great lengths to move these shoes.
They travel first from Squamish to Texas, and then, finally by truck, they are transported over the border in Mexico.
Kathy and her friends make sure every donated pair ends up on the feet of a child in need, and all they ask for in return is to take a picture of the happy child sporting his or her new shoes.
“This is a group of caring individuals that do what they can to help. They risk being arrested every time they take the shoes over the border.”
Kathy hopes this trend grows, as Squamish kids outgrow their shoes and mothers take the initiative to give. Her Shoe drive occur twice a year, and information is available on the Facebook page.
The last Shoe drive raised over 150 pairs of shoes that are now on the feet of children in Barrio San Miguel.
Kathy and her friends are currently seeking an organization to assist with getting the shoes to Texas.
If you have ideas, or have childrens’ shoes to donate, please call Kathy Green at 604-892-2507.
She can also be contacted through her facebook page.
Lorraine Kulig says
See picture of some of the recipients of Kathy’s collected shoes. The children line up and get very excited to get a pair of shoes. Families that have 6-8 children are always in need. So scroll through TheShoelanthropists site, and see pictures of the children receiving your donated shoes in Mexico. We accept no money, just shoes, and count the numbers at the end of the year, like an annual report.
https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.kulig?ref=tn_tnmn#!/groups/THESHOELANTHROPIST/