My first mission trip to Haiti was in 2009 with my church Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship (New City, NY) I have travelled to Haiti almost yearly since. While in Haiti in 2011 myself and another church member (Marie Brevil) and I watched the Haitian people walking across rocks and unpaved roads in the heat with no shoes, we were convicted to do something to help. So when we came back to the US we foun
ded the Shoes4Haiti Project. At Shoes4Haiti Project, we continually work to improve the quality of life for impoverished people of Haiti. To give back to the poorest of the poor, those who don't have access to the benefits offered in the US or even in their own country of Haiti. During our mission trips to Haiti we teamed up with Sistah Foundation which is a non-profit in Haiti. They have helped to facilitate motivational workshops for youngsters in orphanages, schools, churches and communities at large. Shoes are a basic luxury that we take for granted every day as we choose our favorite pair from our closet floor. Many of us are unaware that millions of people across our globe live barefoot lives. It is estimated that over one billion pairs of unworn shoes are taking up space in U.S. basements and closets. Some are outdated or outgrown, but many of them are in good condition and considered a treasure in a developing country. The connection between poverty and shoes is well documented. The World Bank estimates that approximately 400 million children worldwide live in pronounced poverty. Millions of these children will grow up never having had a pair of shoes. Lacking proper footwear, countless children will not be able or permitted to attend school and many will be infected with soil-transmitted parasitic diseases like hookworm or jiggers, causing lasting suffering and lifelong debilitation
Barefoot children who are homeless or living in extreme poverty risk injury while searching for food or household items in garbage dumps and abandoned buildings, or while walking through open sewers and contaminated paths. Shoes lower the risk of injury, but it is simply not affordable when a person is struggling to eat. My first mission trip to Haiti was in 2009 with my church Gracepoint Fellowship (New City, NY) I have travelled to Haiti almost yearly since. We started serving dozens, to hundreds, and now thousands. We challenge you to consider what or how you can participate to put shoes on someone’s feet especially the children. As you’re reading this, you’re wondering “How can I help?” By donating new or lightly used , shoes, sandals, toys etc… Perhaps you can sponsor a drum of shoes. Each drum cost about $150 each to ship, and holds about 75 pairs of shoes depending on the size and style of the shoe. We usually ship about twenty drums or more each mission trip to Haiti. You can send a tax deductible contribution to: Gracepoint Gospel Fellowship Church
384 New Hempstead Rd
New City, NY 10956
In the note or memo section of your check write
Shoe4Haiti Project
We look forward to your support and please feel free to reach out to us regarding your questions and concerns. Gregory Gray and Marie Brevil
