Good for the "sole": Put someone else in your shoes

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- You've heard of "spending the day in somebody else's shoes,” well, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is teaming up with an organization called “Think Kindness,” so somebody can spend some time in your shoes. It's a project called "Soles for Sharing."

“The gift of a used pair of shoes, something you have sitting in the back of your closet, to bring that out and know it’s going to get into the hands and onto the feet of someone who really, really needs them,” explained Sarah Reddin with Mission Services at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare.

So far over 2,500 new or gently worn shoes have been donated so far. The goal is 5,000.

“To hear that over a billion people don’t own a single pair of shoes, that’s a lot and we can try and meet that need,” said Reddin. “While these 5,000 pairs of shoes might not meet that one billion need, it’s going to go a long way and it’s a way for us to tangibly make that connect to people who have the need all over the world.”

The shoes of all sizes will be going in part to local non-profits and organizations that can get them to those in need of them.

“We don’t get shoes donated too often, so to get this amount of shoes is awesome. It will last us quite a long time,” said Anne Olson, the Events and Outreach Manager for the Guest House of Milwaukee. Olson was at a shoe drop off location on Monday to pick up some shoes for her organization.

“We go through tons of shoes for the guys and also used clothing. It’s great to have this opportunity to take these shoes,” said Olson.

If you missed Monday’s shoe drop off, but still want to donate new or gently used shoes to the cause, donations will be accepted through the 16th at Wheaton’s eight hospital locations. CLICK HERE for more information.