Jackson Free Press

Northwest Rankin senior Alecia Edney needs your help. For her senior project, she is collecting used (or new) shoes for women and children to donate to the Center for Violence Prevention, the shelter that the JFP works with to raise money. I met Alecia at the Flowood library in November when Sandy Middleton of the Center and I were on a panel about domestic violence, and she was in the audience and waited afterward to talk to me about wanting to make a difference. I urge all of you to search through your closets to help Alecia meet her goal of 500 pairs of shoes by March 15. I have offered the JFP offices as a collection spot for the shoes. So please drop them off here between 9 and 6 Monday through Friday, or call or e-mail to arrange a good time: 601.362.6121 ext. 2 or sage (at) jacksonfreepress (dot) com.

Please, everyone, let's help Alecia make a difference for these women and children and get some vital recycling done at the same time. Please make sure the shoes are clean and in good condition. And please leave your name with your shoes, so we can recognize everyone who donated in the paper.

Meantime, my column this week is about Alecia's project. Take a read.

Update: There are hundreds of pairs of shoes in our extra reception area right now—Alecia hasn't gotten there to count them, yet—and we can take more until she picks up. So bring your shoes and be a part of something very special!

Previous Comments

ID

117252

Comment

That's a great idea! I'll see what I have.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-19T18:54:19-06:00

ID

117253

Comment

Yes, all. Ladies and parents: bring those shoes on! I want to see our front room fill up!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-19T19:05:02-06:00

ID

117254

Comment

well now i know what to do with those shoes i bought recently that didn't fit when i got them home!! they are brand new and need a good home!

Author

andi

Date

2008-02-20T09:48:44-06:00

ID

117255

Comment

Indeed. Just think how wonderful that will be for women who have little, or had to leave home without anything in order to survive. I have some really cute shoes I've barely worn, too. It'll be great to donate them to such a lovely cause.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-20T09:57:21-06:00

ID

117256

Comment

Where are the JFP offices located? I know y'all are near the Fondren Cups, but not exactly sure where. Thanks.

Author

ellen

Date

2008-02-20T10:13:37-06:00

ID

117257

Comment

2727 Old Canton Road, upstairs. Building number is prominent on the front.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-20T10:24:54-06:00

ID

117258

Comment

Y'all are fixin' to hit the motherlode. I'm going through my shoe closet over the next 2 nights & will deliver the haul on Friday. Yes - I said shoe closet.

Author

sharon

Date

2008-02-20T15:39:51-06:00

ID

117259

Comment

Go, girlfriend. I KNOW this is a request our people can fill! The JFP has just doubled our office space–yes, we have the whole floor now other than our friends Parents & Kids on the end–and I have a whole ROOM waiting for the shoes. Bring 'em on. Let's do Alecia proud.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-20T16:10:47-06:00

ID

117260

Comment

Oh, and everybody, please forward this around to everyone you know. Remember, women *and* children's shoes, any sizes. Clean, good shape.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-20T16:11:40-06:00

ID

117261

Comment

I don't have a lot of shoes, but I have some hiking shoes that I barely wear anymore. Maybe a boy with big feet could wear them. Should still be in relatively good condition. I'll try to remember to bring them with me tomorrow. I may have to turn them in tomorrow night at the meet-up at Hal & Mal's since I may not be able to make it by the office before then.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-20T16:29:45-06:00

ID

117262

Comment

Sure, bring them, golden. That's a good point about bringing stuff to the Lounge. I'll go suggest that on top of the site.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-20T16:31:55-06:00

ID

117263

Comment

Damnit. I thought I was going to get to keep them. I've been fighting with the man about getting rid of about twenty pair of shoes that just don't fit in this new house. They are currently sitting in a large laundry basket in the corner of the bedroom. So, I think you guys are getting them. Ah, well....they were Madison shoes anyway. Most of them are strappy, very high, and completely useless to me now.

Author

Lori G

Date

2008-02-20T19:28:07-06:00

ID

117264

Comment

I told my younger sister about the shoe drive, and she told me to ask you guys if she could donate some clothes also.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-20T20:02:26-06:00

ID

117265

Comment

Yes, L.W., we'll take the clothes. The Center has a thriftstore that women can choose from, and which raises money from sales to the public to help the families in other ways. Please make sure they are clean and in good shape.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-21T16:32:38-06:00

ID

117266

Comment

Okay, I'll let her know. I can't make it to the Lounge tonight (feel like I've been hit by a truck), so I'll probably get the stuff to you sometime next week.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-21T16:45:40-06:00

ID

117267

Comment

I'm going to assume that the Lounge didn't happen tonight due to the weather and power outage in downtown. I was going to take a chance and go to H&M's just in case, but when I heard that much of State St. was in the dark, I decided not to chance it. I'll try and bring the shoes by the JFP office tomorrow.

Author

golden eagle

Date

2008-02-21T20:10:20-06:00

ID

117268

Comment

Good question, golden. Did you all still have the Lounge last night? I was concerned about y'all's safety after I saw all that lightning last night.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-02-22T07:02:58-06:00

ID

117269

Comment

We did, although we didn't get there until 7:30 (we were in the office in the dark waiting for the rain to slow down, considering there were no traffic lights. I fear bad drivers much more than lightning.) We had a small but loud group–maybe 10 or so. The conversation was excellent. Lots of southern storytelling for Fran (he loved the Pat Fordice stories), and then a great political conversation about the presidential race. Obama fared favorably. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-22T09:19:30-06:00

ID

117270

Comment

Just bring shoes to the office ....

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-02-22T09:19:50-06:00

ID

117271

Comment

The floor in the old reception room is disappearing, folks! Thank you for all the shoes, and please keep them walking in the door! So to speak.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-03T11:23:04-06:00

ID

117272

Comment

More shoes are coming in. Come on, y'all, dig into those closets. Let's help Alecia make her goal!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-05T10:56:39-06:00

ID

117273

Comment

Did y'all talk to any businesses about participating?

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-14T10:56:19-06:00

ID

117274

Comment

Alecia may have, L.W. I'm not sure. Meantime, 100 pairs have arrived in the last 15 minutes! It's definitely Shoe Day at the JFP. ;-)

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-14T14:06:33-06:00

ID

117275

Comment

If sh did, that would a big help for her. I was watching Oprah's The Big Give on Sunday, and one of the contestants was doing the same thing Alecia is doing, but she got all the shoes from Liz Claiborne. Of course, it does make a difference with network TV since sponsors are trying to advertise. Then again, local businesses could sponsor as a type of advertising, which could boost their revenue.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-14T14:27:40-06:00

ID

117276

Comment

Meantime, 100 pairs have arrived in the last 15 minutes! It's definitely Shoe Day at the JFP. ;-) -ladd wow! I wonder if anybody heard the radio show & brought some in...maybe I better go get mine on the way home from work!

Author

Izzy

Date

2008-03-14T14:49:51-06:00

ID

117277

Comment

Please do. I'll be here until 7 easily. We can also take them on Monday, as Alecia won't pick them up this weekend. So go clean out those shoe closets, ladies! BTW, I think the sweetest delivery was from a man who lost his mother in December. He brought 44 pairs because she would have wanted him, too. :-(

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-14T14:52:06-06:00

ID

117278

Comment

Donna, could yall still use some clothes? I overheard the wife and daughters plotting about going shopping this weekend so I figure there will be some they will take out of their closets..:)

Author

BubbaT

Date

2008-03-14T15:41:10-06:00

ID

117279

Comment

Bubba, we can always donate clothes to the shelter. Also, a shout-out to the lovely, beaming ladies of the Children's Defense Fund who dropped off 60 pairs of shoes Friday afternoon. Thanks to Wendy and the gang.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-17T09:09:06-06:00

ID

117280

Comment

Has she picked up yet? If not, what is the latest today OR can she arrange a drive by around the corner for my clothes and shoes? Just got them together this afternoon. Praise God for Spring Break.

Author

emilyb

Date

2008-03-17T14:58:32-06:00

ID

117281

Comment

She hasn't picked up, so bring 'em on. You can always call Sage to confirm before coming: 601.362.6121 ext. 2. Thanks!

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-17T16:14:42-06:00

ID

117282

Comment

Alecia just picked up all the shoes, folks. Her friend brought a big track and it was overflowing with garbage bags and boxes full of shoes and the back seat was filled as well. She said she has collected about 300 pairs in other locations as well. Guesses on how many she collected total? She'll be spreading out and counting tonight, I think. We'll put be posting as well. Thank you, everyone, for helping Alecia make her senior project so meaningful. It was truly a group project that she inspired. ;-D

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2008-03-19T17:37:29-06:00

ID

117283

Comment

That's wonderful!

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2008-03-19T17:39:22-06:00