The Shoe That Grows Sign Up Information

Earlier this summer, our Kenya Program Manager Japheth Opondo distributed The Shoe That Grows to children in Siaya, Kenya.

Japheth worked with the Daraja Community Organization to distribute 100 pairs. The Daraja Community Organization works to "empower the community to help bridge the gap between poverty and decent living," focusing on support for health and education.

The group observed social distancing and wore masks during the distribution. Japheth, Daraja social workers, and a government official worked together to ensure a safe distribution.

"My observation about this area of distributions is that it''s in great need of shoes," Japheth reflects. "I realized so many kids had jigger infestations on their feet and quite a good number lacked proper shoes and a number of them came barefoot."

Japheth shares, "The 100 pairs we distributed was like a drop in the ocean." During the COVID-19 pandemic, a time fraught with challenges, distributing The Shoe That Grows safely will allow us to continue to meet ongoing basic needs.

Your continued support allows us to keep getting shoes to kids who need them. Thank you!

This month, ten entrepreneurs from around the world began eight weeks of online training and mentoring in the Pursuit Incubator. As members of Because International's business accelerator, these entrepreneurs are developing innovative products that will change lives. The Pursuit Incubator will lead them through several stages of developing their product, with mentor support every step of the way.

Members of the Spring 2020 Cohort are developing a wide range of products, from Creasion's solar water purifier to Pine Kazi's shoes made from pineapple waste.

After graduating eighteen entrepreneurs last year, we're so excited to see what this next group will do. Their creative and compassionate work is needed now more than ever.

Making a difference is as easy as counting your shoes.

Halfway through Wear-A-Pair and we''re over halfway to our goal! We''re so thankful for the way you''ve shown up during this time to continue sending shoes (and soap!) to the kids and families who need them.

In the spirit of innovation, founder Kenton Lee has devised a challenge to help spread the word about Wear-A-Pair: One, Two, Count Your Shoe.

Here''s how it works: (1) Count how many pairs of shoes you have, and (2) Make a donation of $1 for each pair to our Wear-A-Pair campaign. Then record your own video and challenge 3 friends to do it too!

Together we can send more soap and shoes to refugees around the world, protecting health now and in the future.

P.S. Don''t have Facebook? No problem! You can still be involved by visiting our Wear-A-Pair campaign page.

It''s true-because they adjust and expand to fit a range of ages, The Shoe That Grows is the perfect WOW item for your shoebox.

It's estimated that over 300 million children around the world don't have shoes. By including The Shoe That Grows in your Operation Christmas Child shoebox, you can help change that!

Just click the link below and select the age range for the shoebox you''re sending to receive a pair of The Shoe That Grows in the best size for kids those ages.

Thank you for teaming up with Because and Operation Christmas Child to help make a difference for kids and families around the world.

Working with entrepreneurs across the globe is an honor. We want to highlight a few of the innovative voices in the current cohort:

To our distribution partners, donors, funders, entrepreneurs, and the people we seek to serve:

Grace and peace-
nate

Rev. Nathan M. Roskam, D.Min.
Development Director
Because International

The pandemic has underlined the many ways that health is foundational to our well-being.

For kids impacted by poverty, barriers to health and hygiene means barriers to opportunity.

A shoebox full of items that promote a child's well-being can mean more opportunities for self-empowerment.

There are only a few weeks left to pack your Christmas shoebox! Don''t forget to ORDER BY NOVEMBER 2.

Skim our list of lasting gifts to help fill your shoebox!

"Giving a child light and shoes empowers them to focus on their education and dream big."

Partnering with LuminAID means that we can send light and shoes to refugees who need them.

LuminAID''s Partnership Director, Daphna Gall, shares, "I think that light and shoes are a perfect pair because they both address larger issues and needs that children living in poverty or crisis may have."

The light and shoes that are sponsored will be distributed through Lifting Hands International. These small things will meet big immediate needs for refugee children in Tanzania and Afghanistan.

Click below to hear more from LuminAID about how light and shoes can help.

YOU''RE IN! THANKS FOR JOINING.

Hi , thanks for signing up to receive updates from Because International!

We''ll send you inspiring stories from our distribution partners, the latest updates on The Shoe That Grows, information about our organization-Because-and ways that you can continue to be involved.

Talk to you soon!

We miss you! Tomorrow, Because International''s founder Kenton Lee is holding a LIVE Q&A. Products, innovation, funny stories-what do you want to hear from Kenton? Tune in on Facebook or Instagram Live at 11 a.m. MDT to chat. Kenton will pick one question submission to receive a Because t-shirt!

Tomorrow is also #GivingTuesdayNow! This new global day of giving and unity is taking place as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. And with the CARES Act, U.S. taxpayers can deduct up to $300 in donations without itemizing their deductions.

$20 sends a pair of The Shoe That Grows and a bar of soap to protect the health of one the world''s most vulnerable populations-refugees. You can help us reach our goal of sending 250 pairs of shoes and bars of soap on #GivingTuesdayNow.

See you tomorrow at 11 a.m. MDT!

Your Wear-A-Pair donation will have double the impact.

Thanks to a $4,000 matching gift, today your donation will go twice as far when you send soap and shoes to refugees through Wear-A-Pair 2020.

Current travel bans are still making it very difficult to get The Shoe That Grows to the children and families who need them this year. However, we have the opportunity through our partner Lifting Hands International to send as many shoes as we can to refugee children and families. And, thanks to our partner Eco-Soap Bank, every pair of shoes donated will be matched with a bar of soap!

Just $20 will send two pairs of The Shoe That Grows and two bars of soap to refugee kids and families. Help protect current and future health!