Emerson Supports Changing Footprints.
Changing Footprints provides new and gently used shoes to needy and less fortunate people throughout the world. They have operated for the past two years without a permanent home. Recently, a permanent location was acquired and CF is working hard to raise the funds to renovate the building making Rushville their permanent home and headquarters. Recently, Emerson Foundation (locally Copeland Corporation) continued its support for this very important project, demonstrating a strong belief in our mission and their support for community projects. Pictured left to right: Bob Broughton, Emerson-Mt. Comfort; Maureen Leisure, Changing Footprints; Dominic Basciano, Emerson-Rushville; and Ruth Houk, Changing Footprints.
Trinity Presbyterian Church Serves as Distribution Center
Trinity Presbyterian Church in Rushville serves as the local distribution point for Changing Footprints. This dedicated congregation emptied a room in the basement of the church and used tables and shelves to stock this room with shoes from Changing Footprints. Each Saturday morning they open their doors from 9-11:00am so that those in need can look over the shoes, try them on and leave with whatever they need with no paperwork and no questions asked. On Sunday October 1, 2011, Pastor Mick Saunders was very pleased to announce to his congregation that in the four years of this collaboration, over 5,000 pairs of shoes have been distributed to those in need in our community.
MLK Center Receives Shoes
August 6, Changing Footprints participated in a back-to-school shoe distribution at the Martin Luther King Community Center in Indianapolis. Over 200 pairs of shoes were provided to children at the center. We are so grateful for the donations that make these events possible.
American Women’s Baptist Group of Rushville Partner for Shoe Drive
The American Women’s Baptist Group of the First Baptist Church of Rushville partnered this summer with Changing Footprints by having a shoe drive and included a generous donation toward the renovation of the new warehouse. Pictured left to right: Joyce Vogel, Christine Noll, and Jane Sparks.
Ricks Theater Collects Shoes at Cinderella
“One shoe can change your whole life”……Cinderella. That is what we found out when the cast and crew invited Changing Footprints to collect shoes at each performance during their presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” at Ricks-Weil Theater in Greenfield, Indiana. It was exciting to have the opportunity to partner with such a fine organization.
New Warehouse Renovations Continue
Changing Footprints in partnership with Heart of Rushville continues the renovation of their new permanent home at 320 N. Julian Street in Rushville. The historic brick warehouse has undergone many major improvements and the start of the inside construction is very exciting to us. We are still working hard to raise the funding to complete the project and we ask that you consider supporting our mission by donating materials or labor, or by making a monetary donation. Donations can be made on our website www.changingfootprints.com or by sending your donation to Changing Footprints, 223 W. 7th Street, Rushville, Indiana 46173. Please consider helping Changing Footprints.
To date we have completely replaced the old roof and poured new cement flooring inside and at the dock. All new windows have been installed, gas and water lines are in place and the HVAC equipment has been acquired through a corporate donation. On the west side of the building, the stairs, porch, and handicap ramp have been built and the west side doors are on order. As the inside renovation begins, the anticipation and excitement rises. We are looking forward to resuming our operations in this location and realize that we will be operating on a much higher level than we had ever imagined. This facility will allow us to carry out all phases of our mission and manage the increased demand and rapid growth we are experiencing.
Indianapolis Warehouse Surpasses 2011 Goal
The Indianapolis arm of Changing Footprints has surpassed its 2011 goal of shipping 10,000 pairs of shoes (boots, flip flops, clogs, etc). Currently, 12,200 pair have been provided to meet local, national, and international needs. The most recent shipments have gone to the Pour House, a program which supports the homeless in Indianapolis, Coburn Place, a domestic abuse shelter, and the Salvation Army’s Harbor Light Center, a residential shelter assisting recovery from substance abuse. Students from the Westfield Key Club and nursing students from Betsy Braun’s Health and Wellness class at IUPUI have assisted in sorting and boxing the shoes by category.
Shoes are separated into men’s, women’s, Girls’, Boys’, and Toddler’s categories. Then they are sorted again by type such as casual, dress, gym, soccer, clogs, snow boots, and the like. Each of the 50 local Indianapolis organizations which are supported by Changing Footprints specify the type, gender, and quantity of shoes needed. All are provided free of charge. Additionally, many church and civic organizations are supplied with shoes for national and international destinations.
