Group hits the streets - barefoot
Summer is still a couple of months away, but eventually it will be time to take off the shoes and go barefoot in the sand. But not everyone got the memo to actually wait until summer.
It's not completely unheard of to take your shoes off indoors. But when everyone in the office is doing it at the same time, on the same day, you might think it would raise a few eyebrows. You might raise a few more eyebrows if you're planning to head out on the city streets with no shoes on... and if you're doing it on purpose.
That's what one group did - they left the United Way over the noon hour - to walk through downtown Traverse City - despite the snow flurries.
Sixteen year old Hannah Kelsey didn't mind. "It's a little cold, but I guess it kind of shows you how it could be for the homeless, those that don't have shoes. It's a little cold." Amanda Hilt with the United Way says when they planned this event several weeks ago, they didn't expect snow. But, that's kind of the point. "Hopefully it'll make even more of an impact on our community, and ourselves now, to realize just how uncomfortable it can be to go without shoes."
The event is called "One Day Without Shoes." It's an annual event started by a national shoe company... done to draw attention to how a simple pair of shoes can make all the difference to a person in need. Mark Eckhoff is the United Way Board President. He says it's a great opportunity to join in the effort to draw attention to a community need. "It's the most demonstrative way to really let everybody know what some people are suffering through, all over the world. So we can actually feel their pain and maybe be better advocates and that's what it's all about. "
One of the barefoot walkers was Kyra Kipley. She showed up in work clothes from her job at a local bank, but took off the dress shoes to support the cause. "The shock of the pavement was a little cold. By the end your feet were so numb that you didn't recognize you were cold, expect the pebbles definitely made your feet hurt a little bit."
It's not just about raising awareness - on the 'heels' of the barefoot walk, the United Way is also collecting new or "gently used" shoes to donate to those in need. Amanda Hilt says those shoes will stay in the local community. "It's just to benefit our community. We're taking some to Father Fred and some to Goodwill, they'll be taken to both."
The group walked downtown to a local shoe store on Front Street, before turning back to the United Way. But it's enough to give them a taste of what others go through. Kyra Kipley said "it's amazing what a pair of shoes does for your day. After today I will say I'm definitely more appreciative of them."
Pat Kelsey drove his car along the route, cheering for his two daughters. "They can do this in July and still have some effect, but this really makes a point of it, so I'm glad they did it. I don't know if they are, we'll find out!"
You can donate shoes directly to the United way office on Union Street in downtown Traverse City. Friday is the *last day they'll accept donations. Of course you can always donate directly to Goodwill or the Father Fred Foundation.
