Shoe drive Saturday

A shoe drive on Saturday will raise funds for Mason Bryan, called Mason The Gladiator, for his Puppy Pal Service Dog.

Mason, a 16-year-old from Jefferson Twp., lives with two rare diagnosis: Alpha–thalassemia X-Linked Intellectual Disability Syndrome (ATRX) and Microscopic Polyangiitis. Both are complicated conditions, but the latter is life threatening.

This service dog will benefit Mason in several ways, such as alert his family when he is in respiratory medical danger, get his belongings when he drops them, hold doors when he is pushed in his wheelchair through an entrance that does not have automatic doors, being a companion and more.

Funds for the service dog will be earned based on the total weight of the shoes collected; Funds2Orgs will purchase all the donated footwear. Those dollars will benefit Mason’s Puppy Pal Service Dog. Anyone can help by donating gently worn, used or new shoes at Dayton Public School’s Welcome Stadium Parking Lot D at

1601 S. Edwin Moses Blvd. on June 19 from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.

All donated shoes will then be redistributed throughout the Funds2Orgs network of microenterprise partners in developing nations. Funds2Orgs helps impoverished people start, maintain, and grow businesses in countries such as Haiti, Honduras and other nations in Central America and Africa. Proceeds from the shoe sales are used to feed, clothe and house their families.

“We are excited about our shoe drive,” said Carletta and Mark Bryant, Mason’s parents. “We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us and help those less

fortunate become self-sufficient.”

STAFF REPORT