Walk For Japan
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A group of Freed-Hardeman students are asking you to think twice before throwing out your shoes. Students say they want to give your shoes to earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan, and they are working with a Nashville non-profit group called Soles 4 Souls, to make that happen. Pinned up, laced up, and ready to go. Jennifer Burnett, an organizer, says, “It is probably the most excited I’ve ever been.” Excited about a run on a sunny day? Yes, but this group at Freed-Hardeman is even more excited about what this run can do to help people in Japan, who were rocked by an earthquake and tsunami two months ago. Burnett, adds, “Every dollar given goes to one pair of shoes, given to someone in need, so it is doing a lot more than a lot of other organizations.” The group is working with Soles 4 Souls to collect money and shoes, shoes, and even more shoes. This is how the plan came into action. Jessica Biby, an organizer, says, “Jenny, I have some great news, let’s do this walk.” Burnett, says, “I told her I would love to do that.” Then Biby, adds, “We can take action, we can help out.” They are well on their way to helping. This event alone raised more than $2,300, not to mention at least twenty pairs of shoes they collected. Burnett, says, “You can sit at home and you can say, I wish I could do something about it, or you can do something about it.” These organizers admit more than 300 million pairs of shoes each year are thrown into American landfills, so they are asking you to cut that number, and give your shoes a new home in Japan, where people are still looking to get back on their feet. Biby says they will be collecting money and shoes until June 1st. Last year, she says, other Freed-Hardeman students collected 14,000 pairs of shoes for earthquake victims in Haiti.
