IDAHO FALLS — Seven-year-old Frankie Alvarez has started a local shoe charity where she collects new and used shoes to send to a national philanthropic organization Soles4Souls.
Her inspiration came from Soles4Souls videos on YouTube. Soles4Soles is a non-profit organization that provides shoes to people in need in developing countries all over the world.
The details of Frankie’s charity, Frankie’s Shoe Project, were discussed and planned by family members earlier this year.
“I was just in the car with my aunt and my other aunt, and wanted to do something nice for people, so we thought of the Frankie Shoe Project,” Frankie said.
The project became a reality for the second grader in July, when they had their first shoe drive in Layton, Utah. The event was held at a relative’s salon. People could come to the salon and drop off shoes in her donation box. During the shoe drive, Frankie received almost 75 donated shoes.
After a certain number of shoes are collected, Frankie will travel overseas and deliver shoes to those in need.
“Her ultimate goal is 50,000 shoes,” mother Eloisa Ponce said. “And then she’ll go on a mission for Soles4Souls … to distribute the shoes.”
Soles4Souls’ goal is to fight poverty through the distributions of shoes and clothing worldwide, according to its website.
Frankie’s Shoe Project will be hosting a shoe drive on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Kate Curley Park in Idaho Falls.
For more information about the event, visit the Frankie’s Shoe Project Facebook page.
The post 7-year-old helps gather shoes for needy people in third-world countries appeared first on East Idaho News.