Shoes put to good use
Janice Carr travelled to Dominican Republic to hand out hundreds of shoes to needy collected through local drive
Janice Carr keeps a pair of children’s shoes on her desk at home as a daily reality check.
They remind her of her trip to Dominican Republic, where she just helped deliver 400 pairs of shoes to poverty-stricken citizens.
They also remind her of how important it is for her to continue to collect the footwear.
“It’s easy to get caught up in our busy world today and I just want to remember,” Carr said.
The Lindsay resident is the patient co-ordinator at BioPed Peterborough on George St.
For the last few years, she’s collected gently used shoes for BioPed’s contribution to Soles 4 Souls, a program that gathers and distributes shoes to people living in third world countries.
Carr, 51, helped collect 600 pairs of shoes during last year’s drive.
So when BioPed Peterborough was chosen to send an employee to hand deliver shoes in the Dominican, Carr was the obvious choice.
She and 12 others flew to Puerto Plata on Feb. 19, staying on the island until Friday.
The group went to three schools and two villages.
Carr called the experience eyeopening and heartbreaking.
When they stopped at the schools, Carr couldn’t overlook the kids who weren’t enrolled, standing outside the school grounds.
“I didn’t realize there would be so many kids that didn’t go to school or that people would be so desperate for shoes for their kids,” she said.
Before Carr and the others gave the shoes to the children, they would sit them down to wash their feet, speaking to them through a translator to learn their names.
They also took time to play with the kids, offering them the soccer balls, bubbles or skipping ropes they’d brought along.
“It’s a nice interaction for us, rather than rushing in the door, putting their shoes on them and leaving.”
A few months ago when Carr learned she’d be going to the Dominican, she couldn’t have imagined the impact the trip would have on her.
The mother of two has come back with a new appreciation for life in Canada.
“We are just so fortunate here – we take everything for granted here.”
She’s also returned knowing the cause she and the community are supporting is directly benefitting those who need it most.
“I can assure people when they give me shoes, it’s going to where it’s needed.”
NOTE: Gently used shoes can be dropped off at BioPed Peterborough from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.