PHOTO/PAUL WILLIAMS III

The Rev. Emmanuel Ohonme, a native of Nigeria who lives in Charlotte, founded Samaritan’s Feet in 2003. The non-profit agency collects shoes for distribution to children in the U.S. and the world’s poorest countries.

The Shoes of Hope drive Nov. 27- Dec. 20 is a project of Samaritan’s Feet, a Charlotte-based nonprofit organization that collects and distributes new athletic shoes to underprivileged children.

Rev. Emmanuel Ohonme, a Charlotte resident and a native of Nigeria, founded the program in 2003.  He got the idea from a pair of shoes he received as a gift from an American donor.  The shoes opened opportunities such as participation in youth sports programs; as a result, Ohonme earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Dakota.  He left an  executive career and founded Samaritan’s Feet.  
“We’ve actually been bombarded by requests,” Ohonme said. “The need for shoes is at an all-time high. We’ve seen a large number of requests domestically.”

Shoes donated to Samaritan’s Feet are distributed to children in Charlotte and New Orleans, and as far away as Haiti, Sudan, Darfur and Uganda. An estimated 300 million children worldwide - roughly the population of the United States - are without shoes.

Ballantyne residents Dick and Desire’ Osman are coordinating the Ballantyne Shoes of Hope drive, with the assistance of Ballantyne Country Club, Ballantyne Residential Property Owners Association, Ballantyne Village, Kensington Neighborhood and Forest Hill Church.  

“It sounded like a good idea and my wife and myself wanted to help,” said Dick Osman.  

The goal for the Ballantyne community is 1,000 shoes.  

Footwear can be a life-saver for children living in poverty, Ohonme said. Because mechanized transportation is limited, walking is often the only way to move  around, and the lack of footwear and health care can be fatal.

“Walking is the primary mode of transportation and many of these children come into contact with disease through their feet,” Ohonme said. “That leads to amputation or even death.”

The Shoes of Hope campaign will be held at Ballantyne Country Club’s annual Turkey Trot at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day.  Ballantyne Village will promote the drive at a Dec. 4 holiday event, A Day of Giving.  The greatest need is children’s size 10 to adult size four.  The shoes must be new, in order to meet hygiene and international regulations.  There will be several collection barrels at multiple sites, including Ballantyne Village Theater, Ballantyne Country Club and 7232 Meadow Run Lane in the Kensington neighborhood.

Renee Trudeau, Ballantyne Village’s marketing and promotions manager, says the shopping center will be offering specials to support the campaign.  Anyone donating shoes at the center will receive a free ticket redeemable at the Ballantyne Village Movie Theater for a showing of the patron’s choice.  Sure Fit Shoes is offering up to 50 percent off selected shoes purchased for the donation.

Monetary donations to Samaritan’s Feet will also be accepted at Ballantyne Country Club Main Clubhouse Reception, Ballantyne Village Theater and Sure Fit Shoes, or by mail to Desire’ Osman at 10615 Coyle Circle, Charlotte, N.C. 28277.  Checks should be made payable to Samaritan’s Feet.