At Buckner International our volunteers mean hope to the vulnerable children and families they serve.
 
Take Ed Wales, for example. In 1999, he was listening to Christian radio in his car when God broke his heart for children around the world. Hearing about children who didn’t have shoes or clean water brought him to tears on the side of the highway.

God has turned that single moment of pain into years of shining hope. He started serving through Buckner by collecting footwear for Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls®. Then he traveled to Russia to place them on the feet of children through Buckner.
 
His heart has remained with children since then. Each week since 2007, he and a group of devoted volunteers sort a variety of items at the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid in Dallas. They pray over the items. They pack them. They make sure the items are ready to be sent to Buckner ministries and partners around the world.
 
As a result, children and families have new shoes. They have school supplies. They have clean water. Their lives are being transformed by one man’s willingness to serve.

“It’s making a difference in God’s kingdom. I believe these kids and kids all around the world need to have hope. I cannot imagine growing up in these countries in the poverty they are and not having that hope – something that says hey there’s people out there who care for you,” Ed said.

For all of those who serve at Buckner, thank you for all you do. Thank you for transforming lives. Thank you for shining hope.