Those unwanted shoes at the back of your closet just may save a life.
For some, Shoes for Water is simply a way to get rid of unwanted shoes, but the program run by EDGE Outreach in Louisville does more than that. It aims to solve water and sanitation issues in developing countries, said Bonnie Baker, Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development.
Across the world, 884 million people worldwide live without clean water a child dies every 20 seconds due to water-related diseases, according to EDGE Outreach.
The nonprofit sells the shoes to an exporter who then sells them to vendors in developing countries. EDGE Outreach uses the money they get from the sale to buy water purification systems in those countries and train people in communities to maintain the system. Baker said it takes about 1,000 shoes to set up and maintain a water purification system.
She hopes to start collecting toward that number beginning next week. The 4-H Council in partnership with the school system and Judge-Executive Perry Newcom are holding a shoe drive Thursday at the middle and high schools and Friday at the elementary school.
“If everyone in our county donated one pair of shoes, we could purchase nine systems,” Baker said. “That is nine communities that would have access to clean water. What a difference our community can make.”
Shoes may also be brought to the Crittenden County Extension Office on either of the collection days, and all types of shoes are accepted from flip flops to high heels to boots.
“The only thing we ask is they not be moldy,” she said.
Newcom plans to set up a disposal unit at the county's convenience center behind the road department on U.S. 60 east of Marion to collect shoes for the program indefinitely.
The shoes will then be sent to Western Kentucky Correction Complex where they will be sorted and sold. The money that comes back to the county from the recycled shoes will then be used for the EDGE Outreach program.
"I think its a really good project for the county to get involved in," Newcom said.
The water purification systems are simply PVC pipe, salt and a car battery. This system has the ability to purify 50,000 gallons of water a day. EDGE trains villagers to install, maintain and repair the system. A civic organization, church or missionary that is stationed in the community stays in touch with EDGE so items can be replaced as needed. EDGE also provide health education to the people of the communities teaching them to help themselves.
