International (MNN) — Buckner Orphan Care has launched this year’s Shoes for Orphan Souls program. They plan on collecting thousands of shoes and socks to be delivered to needy children in six countries around the world–China, Russia, Kenya, Latvia, Romania and Guatemala.
Buckner invites you to go with them on a short-term missions trip to help give, not only the shoes, but also the love of Christ. Buckner’s Tiffany Taylor, “And so that’s an important part of our ministry, is that when we tell people we’re collecting these shoes, we’re going to make sure they get on the children by taking people on mission trips, to put them on the children’s feet and tell them the gospel personally. But in addition, we’re also bring much needed medical supplies, other humanitarian aid. The mission teams have a multi-faceted job when they go into these countries.”
In the five years of its program, Shoes for Orphan Souls has provided shoes for more than 1 million children around the world, and it continues to expand each year to reach more children. Partnering with local churches in the countries, Buckner helps support the needs of the orphans through the ongoing work that is begun with the shoe distribution and carried on by the churches.
You can help by collecting shoes and socks, and, Taylor says, through prayer. “Prayer for the children that we serve is the most important thing, they just have nothing, and there’s so many needs.”
Buckner also has a disaster/emergency response program in place, which has enabled them to help out in the tsunami area. They have sent shoes and humanitarian items to provide for the needs of children in Asia.
For more information about collecting shoes or going on a trip with Buckner, call them toll free in the USA 1-877-767-7426 or visit their website at www.helporphans.org. Or search for SOS trips listed on our short-term missions database, www.STMDB.org.
