Did you know that since our start in 1999, Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls® has placed more than three million pairs of shoes on vulnerable children’s feet? While that is a lot of shoes, our job is not over yet!

Shoes are important to us because we know the impact a simple gift of a pair of shoes can make – they can prevent illness and disease, help a child get to school and give them opportunities to succeed.

But we also know that shoes can just be fun, especially for children. To children, new shoes make them feel like they can run faster and jump higher. They feel proud to show them off when they’re in a fun color or have their favorite cartoon character on the side.

Here are a few more reasons why shoes that fit properly are so important:

• The average person takes 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. That adds up to about 115,000 miles walked in a lifetime – that is more than four times around the earth! Sturdy shoes help protect growing feet from rocky, muddy terrain often present in the developing countries we serve.
• During a typical day of walking, the total forces on your feet can equate to a fully loaded cement truck! With so much stress put on feet, the right support is crucial.
• Sneakers were first made in America in 1916. Their name came from buyers who thought you could “sneak around” without being heard because of the rubber sole. Sneakers, or athletic tennis shoes, are the best type of shoes you can donate. They offer excellent protection and adhere to the school dress code guidelines.
• The average size shoe for women is 8.5 and the average size shoe for men is 10.5. While those might not be the average sizes Shoes for Orphan Souls need, we accept sizes youth 1- adult 12. The greatest need is youth sizes 1-5.

And a bonus fun fact: Did you know a 20-foot shipping container can hold up to 60 refrigerators? Shoes for Orphan Souls fills and ships seven of these containers full of new shoes for children in need each year.

To learn more about how to donate shoes or host a shoe drive, visit buckner.org/shoes. 

Written by Kayln Grider, a summer intern with Buckner Communications.