England (MNN) — The average American parent spends $130 per child each year on back-to-school shoes, according to a survey from the National Retail Federation.
But 300 million children around the world will go to school this year without shoes.
That’s why Deb and Nigel Hardy from Somerset, England ditched their shoes to do a four-mile barefoot walk last week.
They wanted to raise awareness and funds for kids who don’t have any shoes. The couple set out on Monday, June 3, at 6 a.m.
“Paying far more attention to the road surface than they usually do, Deb and Nigel completed their 'feet feat' in two hours, finishing in good spirits and ready for the bowl of warm water, soap, and dry towel,” writes Hope for Kids International, a partner of Kids Alive International.
Deb and Nigel sponsor a child from Haiti through Hope for Kids International. They were accompanied on their walk by Roger Allen, director of Hope for Kids International, who wore shoes but took pictures along the way. A friend of Deb’s also joined the walk.
The couple so far has raised over 840 British pounds (around $1,300 USD) for Hope for Kids International through their walk. Click here to donate.
Kids Alive started in China in 1916 as missionaries started taking in homeless kids. Today Kids Alive has offices in Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong, and the United States. They work to give orphaned and abandoned kids clothing, education, food, medical attention, and share God’s love.
Pray for kids around the world in need of good shoes. Pray that they may know the perfect love and healing of Jesus Christ.
