Introductions:

My name is Lorie, and I am collecting shoes for children in Afghanistan.
I will never forget the conversation that we had one morning while my husband was deployed in Afghanistan. He was describing what it was like there, the stark contrast from the lives that we are used to. He described poverty, sickness, and hunger. What really broke my heart was the image that he painted in my mind when he described the children. He told me about the snow and ice on the ground, and children running around and playing in the winter-time, their feet covered only by sandals if that, many of them completely barefoot. Its been about two years since that conversation, and I still remember the guilt that I felt for the luxuary of being born in a country where there is plenty, and the helplessness that I felt with my desire to ease their pains. I am ashamed to say that it took me two years to decided to actually begin acting on my idea to gather shoes, to ask my community to help me collect footware. I am even more so ashamed after I have seen the positive response to my one request posted on Freecycle!
So here I go!
Let me warn you that compared to the volunteer work that I have done in the past, this is a large scale operation. However, I am confident that it will result in at least a few feet shielded from the snow!
I will keep you updated through the processes of collection and organizing the logistics to make this plan a success!