Long Overdue Collection Update

It has definetly been a while since I last posted anything and a lot had happened since then too!

In the last few posts I have mentioned a competition that Soles4Souls had and what it held for the person who won.  I did not win the competition even with having collected 24,000 pair of shoes. On Friday May 11, 2012 Soles4Souls sent a 53' semi truck to pick up 24,000 pairs of shoes!
With not having school that day I had a three friends come and help to load up the semi.
The semi truck arrived at 1-800-GOTJUNK?'s warehouse in Minneapolis that was containing the majority of the shoes! There were about 12 1-800-GOTJUNK? guys were at the warehouse helping load the semi! After the semi was completely full everyone took a HUGE sigh of relief that the shoes were now on their way to the people's feat who need them the most! 

When my mom and I got in the car to head out to lunch after a long days work. My mom turned to grab something out of the back of the car and she screamed!!!! I was scared because I had no idea what had just happened! It turns out that there were still 4 bags of shoes in the back of the car! The semi had already left when we found the shoes so it ended up being the start of a new collection.

I am just fine with not have collected the most shoes and to have not won the trip to Haiti. I would have much rather earned the trip than win the trip. On the way home from school one day Soles4Souls called me and told me that they do not want all of my efforts to go to waist. They told me that "my name had been on their lists for their meetings for the past 3 months." They came up with a new award that they have never given to anyone before, A Lifetime Achievement Award. With that award comes the reward of a trip for two to travel anywhere with Soles4Souls, all expenses paid! My mom and I cried for about 15 minutes straight because we were so excited! 

As soon as I got home I looked online when the next trips to Haiti were! I could barely keep all of my excitement inside! My mom and I are going to Haiti in less than two weeks now! We will be sure to be taking pictures and some video too! I am very excited to go while my mom is very anxious! I wil be sure to update as much as a I can during the school year this year and especially after the trip to Haiti!

THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT!!!!!

Claire Baker
"The Shoe Collector"

Me inside the 53' semi!

Andy, Robby, Tyler & I

My dad making the trip to the front and the back of the  semi!

The whole crew that helped load shoes!

The 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Guys!

The 1-800-GOT-JUNK? truck filling up the rest of the semi!

Friends of my mom's from work!

I am putting the last bag of shoes in the semi!

COMMUNITY WIDE COLLECTION IN SHOREVIEW

My grandparents are hosting another community wide collection in Shoreview and we would love for you to share the date with your family and friends!

When: Wed, April 18th 


Where: Island Lake County Park
3611 North Victoria Street
Shoreview, MN 55126


Time: 4:30PM - 7:30PM


Remember, We will take ANY FOOT WEAR....ANY SIZE......ANY CONDITION

A big THANK YOU to Ramsey County Park and Recreation for donating the space at Island Lake County Park, KTIS, KS95, local community papers, 1-800-GOT-JUNK for helping us transport and store the shoes, Embossing Plus printing for generously donating their warehouse space to store the overflow of shoes...to make this collection possible.

AS OF TODAY we have collected 26,057.5 pair of shoes.....since January 2012, you have donated 17,708.5 pair of shoes!  I am hoping to have an additional 4-7,000 pair in the next 5 weeks!  Keep them coming!

The Soles4Souls Leader Board is up and I am in second place in the collection race.....click here to learn more.

LEADER BOARD

Shoe Collection Update

There has been ALOT going on in the past few weeks regarding the shoe collection, with many more pairs of shoes and lives touched!

So far my total number of shoes from the past two years is 24,421 pairs!!!!

As the collection has continued, I now want to know more about the people who receive the shoes and how this collection has changed their lives. Soles4Souls offers a competition where the person who collects the most shoes in a set period of time, earns a trip to where ever Soles4Souls delivers.  I want to go to Haiti.  Since January 2012,  I have collected 16,072 pairs of shoes!!!!  I recently found out that I was in second place, until the St Vincent de Paul Church collection, family and friends drop and the community drop date this past weekend, March 17-18th at St. Vincent de Paul Church. 

This past weekend alone, we collected 3,784 pairs of shoes!!!! It was a HUGE success!!! I now have more shoes than the person who was in front of me, to the best of my knowledge.  

This past weekend I had a LOT of help from my family (Grandma and Grandpa Smith, brother Charles, sister's Grace Anne and Sophia, Mom & Dad), friends (especially - Hailey, Kaitlyn, Erin and Gabby) and also 1-800-GOT-JUNK (Caleb and Cornelius). The Family and Friends collection went really well too bringing in 1,353 pairs of shoes!!!!

Besides the family and friends collection many people from all over collected shoes for the collection, to include: Mr. Gerard - Principal at St. Thomas Catholic School in International Falls, a second grade class in Fridley, a United Methodist Church, a couple doctors and two nurses collected at their clinics.

I was also honored to be featured on the Fox 9 newscast with Maury Glover.  See attached link to that video.  My little brother Charles, REALLY wanted to be on TV.  

Fox 9 Interview with Maury Glover

Today I spoke to 18 classrooms about why I am collecting, how important shoes are and answered their questions about the shoes.  That was fun.  Someone actually called me a "movie star", that was funny.

Looking ahead - I am hoping to continue to collect from many areas bringing in another 7,000-10,000 pair of shoes....I am reaching out to other communities, churches and have been in contact with KTIS - planning for another 1 or 2 community wide collections in the next 5 weeks!!!!!  Please pray for the success of this collection, for those who have given of themselves and for those who will be receiving the shoes!

I am thankful for all of the support from so many people that I know, and so many that I don't know.  I keep saying how cool it is how one small idea has turned into something so big.

Here is Mr Gerard, principal at St Thomas Catholic School in International Falls

Gabby holding one of the cute boxes that a second grade class made for their collection!

....here is a closer look at the box!  Isn't this so cute!!!!!

  

1-800-GOT-JUNK, Caleb & Cornelius helped us sort, tie, bag and load the 3,775 pair of shoes onto their truck!  THANK YOU!!!!

COMMUNITY DROP DAY

18,548 pair of shoes......and still counting!!!!!  Thank you for your support!  Make sure to mark your calendars for the community wide drop on Sunday, March 18th from 1-4PM at St Vincent de Paul Catholic School in Brooklyn Park!  Bring your old, new and gently used shoes!  THANK YOU!

Shoes, Shoes and more Shoes

   There are many things that have happened in the past few months, and even MORE shoes. First I want to thank everyone for the overwhelming amount of support! I have been working hard to try and get this project out to everyone and anyone. It has definitely paid off!! I have collected 16,529 pairs of shoes, and I am still moving forward!!! Many different communities have joined my efforts to collect shoes for the people around the world: to include schools, local businesses, churches and road races.

• Totino-Grace High School
• DeLaSalle High School
• Holy Family High School
• Hill Murray High School
• Partnership Academy
• Convent of the Visitation School
• Andrea Schroeder - St. John the Baptist Church and Elementary School
• St. Vincent de Paul Church and School
• Twin Cities in Motion - Valentine's Day, and St. Patrick's Day Run
• Family and Friends Neighborhood Collections:
• Janice Smith - White Bear Lake
• Amy - Maple Grove
• Gabby - Champlin
• Jackie - Plymouth
• Andrew - Plymouth
• Cassie - Maple Grove
• Mariah - Maple Grove
• Grace Anne - Maple Grove
• Erin - Maple Grove
• Grace - Champlin
• Anna - Maple Grove
• Erika - Maple Grove
• Anna - Andover
• Andy - Andover
• Sydney - Champlin
• Michaela - Champlin
• Sidney - Champlin
• Caitlyn - Maple Grove
• Allison - Maple Grove
• Jackie Green - River Falls
• Patrick - Chanhassen
• Daniel & Mary Ann Parent - Bonita Springs, FL

   It has been a great honor to be recognized by so many, to include the Star Tribune, the Catholic Spirit and as the "Rockstar Donor" from Soles4Souls please click on those links below for those stories. 

Star Tribune, Catholic Spirit and Rockstar Donor 

   Other great events since my last post I have entered the Travel4Souls challenge. I am trying to collect as many shoes as I can in the next few months, date ranges of January 1 - April 31, 2012. My ambitious goal is to collect 20,000 ADDITIONAL pair of shoes. You can watch the Soles4Souls leader board to see how I am doing. 

Leader Board

   If you are interested in collecting shoes in your neighborhood or dropping shoes off please contact me. I am also hosting a community shoe drop on March 18th from 1 - 4 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 9050 93rd Avenue, Brooklyn Park, MN. 

   I have also been blessed to partner with two great companies, Tim Holtan with On Time Delivery Services, and Chris Koehnen with 1-800-GOT-JUNK Twin Cities. Please show your support by contacting them with any of your needs.

On Time Delivery Services

1-800-GOT-JUNK

   While sitting in front of the fire place one day doing my homework this past week, my phone vibrated with a call from a restricted number. I hesitated, but answered and found myself speaking to Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.  He had heard about my project and wanted to call to thank me.  I was too surprised by his call to even engage in a conversation.  Hopefully I will have a chance to talk to him again, when I earn the trip with Travel4souls!!!!

   In my spare time here is what I have been doing....studying, playing basketball, making cookies and creating wordles....see attached!

Here's to 20,000 pairs of shoes!!