One Person

This is a post I began a few days ago, but I wanted to get it out. Even though the shoe drive is over, I still have lots of pictures to post, thoughts and ideas to share with people. I'll work more on my blog over Thanksgiving break. Have a safe and good time with your family and friends this Thanksgiving.
Hugs
Rachel

54,320 Shoes


27,160 Pairs of Shoes

17,570 Pairs of Shoes on the 1st truck

9,580 Pairs of Shoes on the 2nd truck

2,800 pairs of shoes that couldn't fit on the first truck

500 plus hours of community service from many

21 Schools

12 Weeks

10 Churches

7 Village Centers

3 Gyms

2 Colleges

1 Community

1 Person


We ALL made a difference in the lives of so many other people much less fortunate than ourselves.


Today I find myself with a lot of mixed emotions. I packed up the last of the shoes and cleaned out the warehouse. A chapter in my life closes. I have met so many incredible, kind, wonderful and hard working people. From the littlest ones that I got to read a book to sharing with them how I found out about Soles4Souls and telling them they too would be added to my list of friends to the elderly people that I helped by simply giving them a hug, smiling at them and saying "Thank you".

I could hear their wonder and amazement in the voices of so many. "Wow! Really! What was it like? Did you have fun? What was hard? Why are you doing this again? Did you ever think????" I smile and say to myself... No, God does all my thinking these days... I'm just a vehicle to share joy to others.

Today I spoke with a reporter from Patuxent Publishing Company. I found myself with tears in my eyes because I know how much joy all the shoes I collected will mean to the people that will get them. Happiness for others. Such a wonderful thing.

The best way I can describe my shoe drive/collection is that EVERY day when I would collect or receive more shoes I felt like a child on Christmas morning getting tons of presents.

So my tears were those of happiness for others and to have been able to successfully share their stories to so many members of the community in which I live in. Their message was heard from this county.

One person told me to imagine providing 1/2 of the Raven's Stadium with shoes. That certainly puts into perspective how many shoes I collected.

There SOME Shoes Go...Here Shoes Come

Ok.. so yesterday was a little emotional for me. The first of two trucks came to pick up the shoes that I have collected over the past two and a half months. I wanted to be sure to post lots of pictures so here goes.

First the truck arrives and backs into the truck bay.

Howard from the Tasty T-Shirt Company next door was an incredible help!

Howard and the truck driver, Henry loading up.

Half done... still more to go.

Now... that's one full truck load of shoes!!

Now... a couple of things....

1. Todd knows of all people... I'll try on any hat...and sit in any seat, at least for a moment. I remember being told... "Get out of the front seat" in Dubai and it taking a few minutes for me to figure out why women can't sit in the front seat there. Gladly after Todd said so nicely... "Rachel, we know you can... now get out of the seat" I moved rather expeditiously out of the front seat of the van to the airport. Next question, who was going with me in another van/car... because I wasn't going nowhere by myself in Dubai.

2. That picture of me in the truck... Many of you may or may not know I have a great knowledge of the trucking industry and my previous exposure in working with the Department of Transportation here in Washington, D.C. I couldn't get over Boomer the latest spokesperson for Soles4Souls. So that is my "Boomette" impression! Love you Boomer!

3. The truck was late by 2 hours and my good friend Emily was able to get my younger kids off the bus for me after she helped me pack more shoes at the warehouse. She has been such a sounding board from the very beginning of this chapter in my life. When I told her I was going to Africa right before I left Emily gave me her beads to wear that a friend had brought her from Africa and told me... that I was to return them... wearing them. In other words... to be safe. We share the same birthday and have children that know how to make a difference with compassion and empathy that are the best of friends. Here is a picture of the two of us at our kids Halloween Parade... we are the fun Moms. No sticks in the mud or Debbie Downers here.

3. Close to the end of the day I was literally running across the soccer field with three kids to get Sarah to soccer practice on time. Tagging my husband Bill and saying... "You're it" and going to pick up two more drop off locations that were taking over the facility with overflowing shoe boxes.

4. The very end of the day I got a phone call from Julie Reybold, Curtis's Mom. Curtis has been at the warehouse many many days and had me in tears the day he picked up two boxes and carried them like they were Twinkies. I struggled with one box full of shoes and here he comes with two. Curtis a senior at Reservoir High School has really taken on the lead of collecting shoes and getting them to the warehouse. He has been a wonderful inspiration to me. When I asked him one day why he was at the warehouse helping me his response was... "Because it's the right thing to do." Profound. I only hope I am raising my own children to do things because it's the right thing to do.

Ok.. time to get a move on it today. Lunches to make and children to wake.

Have a great day Everyone,

Hugs,

Rachel

Pictures

Ok... so most of you know I'm not really great about getting pictures out so here's a few.



This is from Hammond High who brought in over 3000 plus pairs of shoes!!!! Somehow, my kids are not in high school yet and I love that bear!

Wayne Elsey came and spoke at Hammond

George Carter, Me and Wayne at Howard County Community College. George gave Wayne his first job in the shoe industry and owns the shoe store in the mall right here in Columbia. Good times.

A shoe I made for my son's halloween costume a few years ago. Little did I know how much red chucks would mean to me in the future. The piles of shoes at the warehouse.

Howard High Students did an fantastic job as well. Over 1600 pairs of shoes! Awesome job everyone!

More pics of the warehouse and shoes. Lots and lots of shoes!

The pallets ready for the truck!

A little Halloween fun for the big kids too. Daphanie and Velma found a monster at our kids school...ZOINKS! My kids were Velma, Raggedy Ann and a Sock Monkey. Lot of fun was had by all.

I'm still packing and packing and packing. I'm making my final collections this week and picking up collection boxes. It's been a good shoe drive/collection. Thanks everyone for letting me be an active part in your community! WE MATTER AND WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!

TO DATE WE HAVE COLLECTED 20, 470 PAIRS OF SHOES! THAT'S 40,940 SHOES IN ALL AND THAT'S A LOT OF SHOES!

Hugs,

Rachel

Hammond High School Rocks!!!

Picked up over 3,000 pairs of shoes from Hammond High School this morning. Took about 20 of us a while to match all the shoes up.... but WE DID IT!!!!! And we yelled "PAIR" every time we got a pair together! Friday, at the end of Homecoming week/Spirit week, I think we all had much fun. The kids were totally into it as well and I could not have done it without their help.

Hammond High.... you're awesome! A special shout out to Mr. Livieratos aka Mr. L. who has reached out and stepped beyond his classroom to real life situations. I could not have done it without his help and expertise.

Thank You!

Hope to see some of you this weekend at the warehouse!
Hugs
Rachel

WOW & Warehouse Times This Weekend

Ok... first...

Warehouse times this weekend

Friday evening 7pm unitl ???
Saturday 10/22 2pm until ???
Sunday 2pm until???

This is the last weekend I will be able to offer community service hours to students in Howard County.

The tractor-trailer is scheduled to come and I will be getting everything I have boxed and pallet ready for the truck. To date I have 15, 045 Shoes as well as 3 more rooms of shoes in piles that are literally up to my shoulders. I am thrilled at my community for really stepping up to the plate here.

Times are busy and I'm attempting to remain calm and carry on. It is a tad bit ku ku in my world right now and honestly I wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Thanks EVERYONE for making this happen.
Hugs
Rachel

Warehouse Times for 10/22 & 10/23

Hi All,

I'll be at the warehouse this weekend. If you would like to come help rubberband and tie together shoes, bring your water bottle and come on over.

Saturday 2pm to 5pm
Sunday 2pm to 4pm

Hope to see you there.
Warmly,
Rachel

Warehouse Dates & Times 10/16/11

Hi All,

I will be at the warehouse this weekend on SUNDAY ONLY from 2 to 5pm

We have a zillion shoes to get ready for shipment. Lotta hands, little work.

Show up with a water bottle and come prepared to help sort, bundle and pack.

Zul my helper at the warehouse has been ill all week and unable to be at the warehouse. If you need to do a drop off or meet with me, you can reach me at the number below the warehouse address to the right of this blog and I will try my best to work out a time that works for both parties.

I am busy running around collecting shoes as quickly as possible. If I haven't gotten to you yet, just know If you have called and left a message for pick up that I am coming. I know the boxes are filling up quickly as the closure of this collection is quickly approaching.

Thanks again to eveyone for making me proud of our community. Having a pair of shoes really means a lot to so many others. It reaffirms my belief in one of Wayne Elsey's quotes... "To have enough to give someone else is what it truly means to be rich."

Have a great weekend all

Hugs

Rachel