Highland Mills church steps up efforts to deliver 'soles' for West Africa

Highland Mills — The Mission Team at the Highland Mills United Methodist Church, and its sister church, Mountainville United Methodist Church, has expanded its efforts from saving “souls” to saving “soles” as in shoes and sneakers. Recently, the church began collecting old footwear for ReRun Shoes, an organization based in Massachusetts. This group sends the shoes to West African micro-entrepreneurs who refurbish them and bring them to market. Through this effort, the micro-entrepreneurs are able to earn an income while they provide affordable shoes to their customers. ReRun Shoes also has partnered with another organization, “Imagine No Malaria,” and for every 100 pounds of shoes received from various United Methodist churches through ReRun Shoes, “Imagine No Malaria” will donate mosquito nets for beds as one way to combat malaria which is a threat to adults and especially children in many parts of Africa. Members of the Church Mission Team have been spearheading this project for more than a month and the response from the community has been extraordinary. There is a big blue plastic bin on the front steps of the Highland Mills UMC and almost every day people come by and leave bags of shoes. It’s important to note that any pair of shoes, dress or casual, or sneakers in fairly reasonable condition is accepted. It is requested that each pair be rubber-banded or tied together. The only footwear not acceptable is winter boots and flip flops. The call for used shoes and sneakers goes on and will do so as long as donations continue. The church is located on Route 32 at Ridge Road in Highland Mills. For more information, please call 845-928-6177. You may also go to www.highlandmillsumc.org, www.rerunshoes.com, or www.imaginenomalaria.org.