Man turns a church shoe drive into a mission to help people around the world
By Brooklyn Heyn
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SPARTA, Wisconsin (WKBT) — A Sparta man’s church project has grown into a personal mission to help people around the world put shoes on their feet.
Richard Zidich first launched a shoe drive through Sparta United Methodist Church, collecting more than 350 pairs of shoes for the nonprofit Soles 4 Souls. Over the next five years, word spread and donations kept coming, eventually adding up to 10,000 pairs shipped out through the organization.
“When I saw this I said ‘this is something I can do to give back’ so that’s why I do it,” says Zidich.
Now, he’s working toward another big goal: collecting a second round of 10,000 pairs for those in need.
“If everybody in Sparta, and we’ve got over 10,000 people in Sparta, gave one pair of shoes, we’d have over 10,000 pairs of shoes,” says Zidich.
The shoe drive has grown so large that Soles 4 Souls now rents a storage unit in Sparta, giving Zidich space to stack donations until they’re picked up. Zidich says it is humbling to see how large the drive has grown.
“It’s been amazing, I shake my head every week and say ‘oh look at the shoes. It’s one of those ways to give back that whoever gives is giving from their heart, and doesn’t cost anything,’ he says.
Those who want to help can donate gently used shoes at Sparta Methodist Church, 210 N. Court St., Sparta, Wisconsin 54656.
Donations can be dropped off at the K St. entrance on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Arrangements outside those hours, or for bulk pickups, can be made by contacting the church office at office@spartamethodist.com or by calling 608-269-6949.
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