Soles4Souls

The Soles4Souls charity to provide shoes for impoverished people and disaster victims around the world is an international organization, but hundreds of people have contributed on the local level.

The drive started last Sunday and by midday Thursday more than 2,300 pairs of shoes had been donated with hundreds more expected by the end of the day.

Heath Bain and his wife Melissa arrived in Cape Girardeau Monday evening as part of their National Soles4Souls RV tour. He said they do more than raise awareness of the need for shoes in places that have seen natural disasters. They also provide avenues to help the cause.

"This has just been an amazing stop," Heath said Thursday, just before heading to Notre Dame Regional High School, where he was invited to speak. "Cape has been the standard of what we could ask for. There's been involvement from elementary schools, high schools, university and a church here. It's a primary example."

Today is the last day for the campaign.

Collection centers are at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Marcy's Planet Shoes and the University Center on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. Volunteers are also needed to help sort, tie and pack the shoes.

Last year, 6,379 shoes were donated, and organizers are excited for this year's drive.

If you haven't already, consider donating some shoes. To those who have donated to the cause, thank you. Shoes may seem like an ordinary thing. But to those who don't have any, it will mean a great deal.

Again, thanks to those who have donated and those who have helped organize this locally.