Operation Compassion Distributes Shoes and Clothing to Children Worldwide
Operation Compassion, an independent benevolent agency with roots in the Church of God, recently announced a successful drive to clothe and place shoes upon the feet of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
According to a release from Operation Compassion, entrepreneur and philanthropist Bill Gates has stated that 50% of the infectious diseases in the world can be prevented with two things: toilets and shoes. Each day around the world children are exposed to numerous diseases because they are walking, running and playing barefooted. It only takes one scrape or cut to allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream creating a perfect storm of ill health among the most vulnerable — children.
In responding to Gates statement, Operation Compassion has set out to do their best in preventing the spread of these diseases among children by distributing shoes and clothes to as many countries as possible, including the United States.
“It does not matter if these children have never owned a pair of shoes or they have lost everything through a disaster, Operation Compassion wants to be there to help save a child,” said OC President Dave Lorency. “To this end, from December 7, 2013 through February 14, 2014, Operation Compassion distributed more than one million pairs of shoes worldwide. Just in the last couple of weeks, an additional 500,000 pairs have been donated and distributed. To further supplement the distribution of shoes, more than 175,000 items of clothing were distributed from our United States warehouse as well.”
Lorency said since many of the manufacturers of shoes have relocated to Asia, most of the donations originated there. This made it easier to distribute to Asian countries, such as the Philippines. During the most recent disaster, the children suffered the most, losing almost everything. Operation Compassion was able to distribute all the shoes and clothing directly to the children. Operation Compassion has also been able to ship to countries through Central America, Africa, Caribbean and the United States.
“Since shoes and clothing is a valuable commodity in the United States as well as around the world, Operation Compassion has been able to distribute them to enhance our response to national disasters,” Lorency continued. “When families have lost everything to floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, Operation Compassion has been there to lend much needed assistance.”
Operation Compassion and its partners have undertaken a very large job and assumed responsibility in helping provide shoes and clothing for children that have no resources.
To donate to Operation Compassion and the shoes and clothing initiative, visit www.operationcompassion.org, call 423.728.3932, or mail donations to, Operation Compassion, 114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370, Cleveland, TN 37312.
