GREENFIELD — This year marks the 20th anniversary of Changing Footprints, the Greenfield-based shoe ministry which collects, cleans and distributes a wide variety of footwear to those in need.
Since its founding in 2004, the organization has distributed roughly one million pairs of shoes locally and around the world.
“We are over one million if not now, then soon,” said longtime board member Stephen Jeffries, who has been with the organization from the start.
He was recruited by a high school classmate, Maureen Leisure of Greenfield, who founded the nonprofit back in 2004 after watching a documentary that would forever change her.
Leisure was moved to tears to see Afghans suffering injuries and sometimes losing their feet due to walking barefoot on rocky terrain after being forced to flee into the mountains with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Since then, Changing Footprints has been dutifully distributing hundreds of thousands of pairs of shoes throughout the world, with a good portion of those close to home.
An assortment of sneakers, dress shoes and work boots line the shelves at the nonprofit’s collection site, at 1001 W. Main St. in Greenfield, where those in need can select footwear sorted by size.
Changing Footprints also donates shoes to organizations like Wheeler Mission, Horizon House and Disabled American Veterans, and recently set up a shoe rack at Eskenazi Hospital in Indianapolis.
The nonprofit also ships footwear for emergency relief in areas of need throughout the United States and abroad, including sending 5,000 pairs to Ukraine.
Jeffries said it would all not be possible without the generous support of the community.
This marks the final week of an annual Shoe the World month-long collection at Erlewein Mortuary and Crematory, at 1484 W. U.S. 40 in Greenfield, where shoes can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Greenfield business is one of many organizations which support the shoe ministry throughout the year.
The new Amazon warehouse in Greenfield has already donated shoes two or three times this year, and a number of churches throughout the county also host collection bins, as well as Needler’s Fresh Market in New Palestine.
Groups hosting 5K events have also collected and donated shoes over the years.
In January, more than 7,000 pairs of shoes were collected at local schools through the annual shoe drive hosted by the Hancock County Solid Waste District, which not only collects shoes for those in need but promotes the positive effects of reusing and recycling footwear.
Director Dede Allender has coordinated the drive over the past four or five years, encouraging local schools to see who can raise the most pairs. She then presents the winning school with a tall trophy while Changing Footprints rewards students in the winning class with miniature tennis shoe keychains.
“It’s really amazing to have so much support throughout this community,” said Jeffries, who has been with Changing Footprints ever since Leisure recruited him and his wife at their high school reunion.
Since then they’ve pulled in other friends and community members to grow the organization and serve those in need.
“It’s a passion project,” said Jeffries, who said the mission is about much more than simply providing footwear.
“We’re doing more than just giving away shoes. We’re helping people be able to go to work and to school, and we’re teaching our young volunteers about helping others and showing compassion for other people. We’re also keeping shoes out of landfills,” he said.
Volunteers dedicate their time to collecting, sorting and washing pairs of shoes that will eventually make their way to the distribution center at the corner of Franklin Road and U.S. 40 in Greenfield.
There those in need can come select from a variety of footwear in various sizes, from tennis shoes and dress shoes to steel-toed boots, which are often required in certain workplaces.
“One man came to us saying he needed a pair of shoes so he could cut his grass, so we gave him a pair of tennis shoes,” said Jeffries.
The nonprofit started out using storage space in his former shop, The Acorn Tree in Greenfield, and has since expanded into warehouse space.
When a former Greenfield antiques store was offered to the nonprofit three years ago, the community banded together to renovate the space at 1001 W. Main St. and open it to the public.
The White Family Foundation donated the shelving, NineStar employees painted the inside and a local church cleaned the outside.
Jeffries said he and Leisure have been thrilled to see new volunteers come on board in recent months.
“We’re excited about seeing so many people step up to help us,” he said, but more volunteers are always needed to carry the load.
To volunteer or request shoes, contact Changing Footprints at 317-374-5608.
Donations can be dropped off at the Changing Footprints collection bin at 1001 W. Main St. in Greenfield or at Needler’s Fresh Market, at 5802 W. US 52 in New Palestine.
Other drop-off locations throughout Indiana are listed at ChangingFootprints.org.
