New Hanover is partnering with Sole Hope, an organization started in 2010 and located in Uganda. Sole Hope makes shoes for children and adults throughout the region. Many in Uganda go barefoot. Jiggers, a type of sand flea, burrow into these unprotected feet, causing painful sores and difficulty walking.

Asher Telleen, the founder of Sole Hope created a pattern to make a shoe, using DENIM, elastic, and tires. Sole Hope teams up with churches and other organizations around the world to make shoes for the people of Uganda. This initiative has been so successful that Sole Hope is running a compound in Jinja, Uganda where they have over 55 full-time Ugandan employees filling positions, while being paid a fair wage, ranging from security, social workers, tailors, and drivers to caregivers, nurses, educators, and physicians.

New Hanover is hosting a Shoe Cutting Party, being held following our worship service on Sunday, September 25. We are collecting gently used pairs of jeans. If you have jeans to donate to the cause, drop them by the church Mon-Fri, from 9-1pm, or come by the church on Sunday and join in the fun!

In case you are wondering what a Shoe Cutting Party is, we will be cutting pieces of denim, using the pattern from Sole Hope, and packaging them up to ship off to Uganda, where the Sole Hope workers will assemble and distribute the shoes. Here’s a picture of a Sole Hope shoe. We will be entertained by traditional Ugandan music and perhaps a few videos. Jennifer Smithey will have some special activities for young children.

Tracey Sigmon has graciously volunteered to make a delicious Ugandan meal of beans and rice, “a la Tracey”, and a special cookie treat for dessert. She needs to know by Tuesday, September 20, how many people to plan for so that she can shop accordingly.  Signup here on the SignUp Genius. Or contact the church office to get signed up.