OSF Shoe Drive a Success

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center and Podiatrist Todd Snoeyink, DPM, collected more than 3,200 pairs of shoes for local homeless shelter Home Sweet Home Ministries. The collection surpassed its goal of 2,800 pairs of shoes, which it collected during last year’s event.

Where the Shoes Go
Clients living at the Home Sweet Home shelter will receive first choice of three pairs of shoes each. A portion of the remaining shoes will then be given to various local social service agencies. Any remaining shoes will be placed in the Mission Mart thrift store for sale.

Shoe Drive an Annual Event
This marks the seventh year Dr. Snoeyink has sponsored a shoe drive to benefit Home Sweet Home Ministries. "Initially, it began to help prevent cold-related injuries that could arise in the homeless population from inadequate shoe gear during the cold weather months,” Dr. Snoeyink said. “But receiving a good pair of properly fitting shoes also helps prevent many of the injuries that result from improperly fitting or inappropriate shoe gear.”

2010 Shoe Drive Sponsors
The OSF Shoe Drive was held from August 9 through August 13, 2010. Radio Bloomington’s WJBC, PODS, Lamar, and The Pantagraph all sponsored the event. The event called upon the Bloomington-Normal community to donate new or gently used, men’s, women’s and children’s shoes at four locations during the week, or to participate in the drive thru drop-off held from Monday through Friday, in the parking lot of OSF St. Joseph Medical Center.