Making a Difference International

In many areas of the world, a single pair of recycled shoes could mean the difference between surviving . . . or not.

Four billion of the planet's 6 billion people live in conditions inconceivable to the wealthiest 1 billion. In a recent report by the eminent Dr. David Suzuki, he explains there are numerous diseases that infect millions of poor people in developing countries, yet we rarely hear about them. As indicated by the chart, the leading plague of the 3rd World is parasites, with soil-transmitted helminthes (a type of parasitic worm) accounting for a staggering 43.5 million life-years lost.

This entire group of parasites enters the body either through ingestion or by simply walking barefoot on contaminated soil. Because impoverished people have so few resources, they generally live in areas where trash and human waste have made the soil a breeding ground for a variety of lethal organisms. Out of necessity, many children spend their entire day walking barefoot on garbage dumps looking for something to either eat or sell.

As the vast majority of the world's poor must walk wherever they go, a simple pair of sandals would be of enormous help in an already difficult existence. Any kind of footwear would protect these unfortunate people against soil-borne parasites, as well as cuts, abrasions and infections from being habitually barefoot. Additionally, shoes allow extremely poor people to go the extra distance to where they can obtain food, or water, or shelter, or medical help.

We have access to over 200,000 pairs of shoes that we can recycle to the barefoot poor. However, in order to do this, we need your help to cover the collection and shipping costs. The spare change in your pocket or purse will be enough to provide a pair of shoes to an impoverished person . . . . and maybe even save their life.

WE ASKING FOR YOUR DONATION OF USED CLOTHING AND SHOES THAT ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED BY THE POOR AND NEEDY.

Every day, fathers, mothers and children in Africa die because of infections they could have prevented by just wearing a pair of shoes, or clothes.

If this need touches your heart and you wish to donate -your used clothes and shoes please let us know immediately by calling 612-578-9461 for pick-up or drop off in your area.

• We need used clothes and shoes of all sizes to give to those who have little of this world's goods.
• Millions of children in Africa go to school in rags, a humbling consequence of poverty.
• "I want to do something good for myself," said Kevin, a middle school student in Uganda. "I try to go to school every day but I cannot because my feet have sores that are infected."
• Two brothers alternate days to go to school because they only have one pair of good pants between them.
• Your help with clothes and shoes will help brighten many faces and lift the spirits of fathers, mothers and children.

What do we do with our clothes and shoes when they get worn out and we don't want to wear them anymore? Everyone has clothes, shoes and many other personal items that at some point they don't want to use any more. What do people do with those things? They are collecting dust and some day they all go to trash. Your used Clothes and shoes can literally save lives of impoverished men and women.

We are accepting from the public used clothes and shoes that they no longer use and sending them to poor people in Africa. Personal items like socks, bed sheets, comforters, and blankets are also accepted. We accept personal items only.

We are not giving up any of our luxury or comfort. We are not sacrificing anything. These are things that we don't want to use any more. Someone desperately needs them.

Making A Difference helps empower poor and rural communities of Africa. We do this by providing basic to struggling individuals and families and individuals in addition to providing programs and services that focus on education, health, job skill training and income generating activities to restore the livelihoods of these communities. We need your help and support to make this happen.

Thank you for making a difference