YMCA of Greater St. Louis is Empowering People and Communities Through Local Shoe Drive

ST. LOUIS - Jan. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- The YMCA of Greater St. Louis is hosting a shoe drive to benefit people and communities in need around the world.  From January 27 to February 21, all branches of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis will be collecting shoes to benefit Shoeman Water Projects, a local nonprofit that provides clean water to communities in developing countries around the world.

“The Y’s core values – healthy living, youth development and social responsibility – make a partnership with Shoeman Water Projects a natural fit for our association,” says Gary Schlansker, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Louis.  “It is easy to forget that many people across the world do not have access to shoes or clean water.  The simple act of donating your gently used shoes will provide someone in need with a pair of shoes and allow communities with the means to get fresh, clean water.”

We find powerful images in shoes – especially throughout history!  Shoes like the Grecian sandal, the 50’s saddle shoes, Michael Jackson’s penny loafers, Nike’s® Air Jordan’s and the red sole of Christian Louboutin conjure up different images in your mind.  In countries like Kenya, Haiti and South Africa, these images bring to mind foot protection, and to Shoeman Water Projects, they mean access to water for communities.  The shoes collected at the YMCA’s shoe drive will go to street vendors in other countries to be resold, providing local residents with access to affordable shoes and helping to boost the developing economies.  The funds from exporting the shoes will help Shoeman Water Projects to purchase well-drilling rigs and water purification systems so communities will have access to water.

“The Y is one of the leading health and human service organizations in the St. Louis area, and their support of our mission will allow us to make great strides toward our goal of promoting health halfway around the world in Kenya,” says George “The Shoeman” Hutchings, founder and CEO of Shoeman Water Projects. “We are thrilled that members and staff of the Y recognize the power of their shoes and the significant impact they can have in the world.”

Shoes can be donated at any of the YMCA facilities listed below.  Any type of shoe will be accepted, provided they do not have holes.  Shoes should be tied, rubber-banded or bagged together and placed in collection bins in the Y lobbies.

YMCA of Greater St. Louis Locations:

Downtown YMCA, 1528 Locust Street, 63103
Edward Jones Family YMCA, 12521 Marine Ave., 63146
Emerson Family YMCA, 3390 Pershall Rd., 63135
Four Rivers Area Family YMCA, 400 Grand Ave., 63090
Jefferson County Family YMCA, 1303 YMCA Dr., 63028
Kirkwood Family YMCA, 325 North Taylor Ave., 63122
Mid-County Family YMCA, 1900 Urban Dr., 63144
Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Blvd., 63112
O'Fallon Family YMCA, 3451 Pheasant Meadow Dr., 63368
O'Fallon Park Rec Complex, 4343 West Florissant, 63115
South City Family YMCA, 3150 Sublette Ave., 63139
South County Family YMCA, 12736 Southfork Rd., 63128
St. Charles County Family YMCA, 3900 Shady Springs Ln., 63376
Webster Groves Family YMCA, 226 East Lockwood Ave., 63119
West County Family YMCA, 16464 Burkhardt Place, 63017
Wildwood Family YMCA, 2641 Highway 109, 63040

Surveys from 45 developing countries show that women and children bear the primary responsibility for water collection in the majority of households. This is time not spent working at an income-generating job, caring for family members or attending school, according to WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) for Water Supply and Sanitation. (2012). Approximately 100,000 pairs of shoes equals one water well drilled, which equals 2,000 people receiving fresh, clean water.

Shoeman Water Projects has collected over 3 million shoes since 2008.  This equates to five well-drilling rigs, more than 250 wells drilled serving more than 210,000 people, as well as the installation of water purification systems and repairs to well pumps that serve clinics, schools and villages across the globe.

Visit Shoeman Water Projects to learn more about the organization at www.shoemanwater.org.

About Shoeman Water Projects
One pair of donated shoes serves two! One pair of shoes provides affordable shoes and clean, fresh water. Shoeman Water Projects is a project of Eagle Wings Ministries, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, working to alleviate as much human suffering as possible. Shoeman Water Projects picks up donated used and new shoes from businesses, churches, schools, special events and shoe drives. Once collected, the Shoeman exports the shoes to street vendors in South America, Haiti, Kenya and other places where people need affordable shoes. Shoe resale builds the local developing economy with retail businesses and affordable shoes.  The money the Shoeman receives from exporting the shoes is used to purchase well-drilling rigs, water purification systems, and other supplies to bring clean, fresh water to those who thirst.  Additionally, groups and organizations planning mission trips have the opportunity to purchase a water purification system and receive training on water purification, health and hygiene that they can pass along to the people they serve.

About the YMCA of Greater St. Louis
The YMCA of Greater St. Louis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Featuring 17 traditional Y branches and two Campus Y student leadership facilities on the Missouri side of the St. Louis Metro Area, our Y also includes YMCA Camp Lakewood and Trout Lodge in Potosi, Missouri. The Carondelet Park Rec Complex and O’Fallon Park Rec Complex are owned by the City of St. Louis and operated by the Y. Our Y is a proud member of the United Way. For more information, please visit www.ymcastlouis.org or call 314-436-1177.