8-year-old hopes to collect, donate 150 pairs of shoes by Thanksgiving
LOFTY GOAL — Madisyn Ferguson, 8-year-old granddaughter of Blaine and Judy Lewer of New Richland, has set a goal to collect 150 pairs of shoes to donate by Thanksgiving. (Submitted photo)
By KATHY PAULSEN
Staff Writer
Never underestimate the value of a child. They have feelings and empathy beyond what an adult might believe.
Little Madisyn Ferguson, 8-year-old daughter of Janda and Dwight Ferguson of Rochester, and the granddaughter of Judy and Blaine Lewer of New Richland, set a goal of collecting 150 pairs of shoes by Thanksgiving.
She set the goal, which seemed like a lot for one little girl, but she was determined. So far she has been able to collect a little more than 100 pair of shoes. Madisyn has been keeping an eye on the calendar and realizes Thanksgiving will be here before she knows it and realizes she still has some work to do to reach her goal.
Shoes that are new to gently used and in good shape, of any size, are being accepted. The shoes will then be shipped to many different corners of the world and will be made available for people who desperately need them.Many of us have bought a pair of shoes that, after we had them for a short time, realized they didn't fit just right or didn’t suit our liking, so we quit wearing them. Maybe they would fit someone else. If you have shoes that have been gently used, they can be donated.
It is also interesting to note that if some of the shoes don't "quite meet the standard" they can still be recycled and used for other projects. The shoes will be melted down so that they can be used to create new ones.
Can you help fulfill this little girl’s goal? Madisyn would be ever so grateful if you would help her, and all of the people who desperately need shoes to wear. The project is a fundraiser for the Elton Hills Elementary School that Madislyn attends in Rochester, which will help fill the gaps left by limited state and federal funding. The Elton Hills School is using this shoe drive to show how an act of kindness to help others can have an impact on the environment and people around the world.
Madisyn recently made a personal request for help during Sunday worship at United Methodist Church in Ellendale.
If you would like to help Madisyn reach her goal of collecting good, gently used shoes for others who desperately need them, they can be dropped off at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale on Wednesday night or Sunday morning, or you can call Madisyn’s grandmother, Judy Lewer in New Richland at 507-465-8588 to make arrangements.