Helping Haiti, shoe shipment

MORRISBURG – One person,  even one as young as 13, can make a difference in the face of overwhelming disaster.

The students of St. Mary/St. Cecilia’s, the teachers, and parents and families rallied behind Christyn Veinotte, 13, when she proposed a unique and thoughtful way to help the victims of last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti. In less than one day, her school brought in 255 pairs of gently used shoes, all of which were shipped to Haitian survivors on Friday, January 22. 

“I was on vacation in the West Indies, actually about 45 minutes by plane from Haiti, when I saw stories of the earthquake disaster on television,” Christyn said. “One little girl in particular, who had been trapped under sharp rocks, made me feel really bad. I had to do something to help the survivors.”

However, Christyn wanted to do something to help that was creative, direct, and not just money.

Her father, Terry, (her mother is Tracey) suggested that she go on the internet to research possibilities. She located a company called Soft Moc, which operates a project called “Soles for Souls”, collecting shoes and shipping them to countries in need. Soft Moc was planning to send a shipment of shoes to Haiti on January 22.

“I know kids sometimes can’t do a lot on their own,” Christyn explained, “but they can when there are lots of them working together.”

She talked to her friend, Bailey Hass, who immediately agreed to help her spearhead a shoe drive at St. Mary/St. Cecilia’s. They brought their idea to their grade eight teacher, Mrs. Deena Keith, who was eager to support their efforts. The girls’ entire grade eight class at the school volunteered to help with the drive.

However, time was pressing against them. Soft Moc’s deadline for shoes was Friday the 22nd.

Bailey and Christyn prepared a draft letter home on Tuesday, had it edited by Mrs. Keith, printed by the school and sent home on Wednesday with the students.

“We only had Thursday for students to bring in shoes,” Christyn explained, “because our shipment had to be in Ottawa on Friday. I was really afraid that we just wouldn’t get very many shoes with such short notice.”

They needn’t have worried.

By Thursday afternoon, between students and teachers bringing bags of shoes, and parents dropping off shoes at the school door, the grade eight class found itself with 255 pairs of shoes to sort, fasten together and pack. They even received a last minute donation of baby shoes.

“We were totally amazed,” Christyn and Bailey said. “We had no idea we’d get so much, especially in a single day.”

Retired teacher Claire Locke came in to help Mrs. Keith and the grade eight’s get their special shipment ready. Then, as Christyn said, “Mrs. Locke generously drove our gift to Soft Moc in Ottawa on Friday, January 22.”

Christyn and Bailey both wish they could be there when the shoes so generously donated from a small town in Canada arrive in Haiti. But they are hopeful that their school’s gift will make a difference.

“The people of Haiti really deserve our help,” Christyn said. “And our people here in Canada are pretty special too. They care.”