Shoes collected during annual 'Walk a Mile' drive to be displayed, donated May 16

Staff Reports
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Across Fort Smith, new and slightly worn shoes have been collected to and made ready for the feet of foster children.

There are 380 foster children being raised in Sebastian County. During May, National Foster Care Month, volunteers from The Arkansas Family Alliance have been busy collecting donated shoes at various locations across Fort Smith, according to a news release.

The alliance assists the Arkansas Department of Human Services with donations year-round, including during the annual “Walk A Mile in My Shoes” shoe collection drive.

Sarah Sharum, area director for Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services, left, and Matt Whitson, executive director of Arkansas Family Alliance, helped distribute more than 400 pairs of donated new and lightly-worn shoes for foster children during the 2022 "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" effort.
Sarah Sharum, area director for Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services, left, and Matt Whitson, executive director of Arkansas Family Alliance, helped distribute more than 400 pairs of donated new and lightly-worn shoes for foster children during the 2022 "Walk a Mile in My Shoes" effort.

All of the shoes collected across Fort Smith will be displayed on the lawn of the Sagely and Edwards Realtors near the parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16.

Founded in Fort Smith in 2017 by Matt and Becca Whitson, the Arkansas Family Alliance assists local families in crisis through a network of fellow nonprofits, businesses and churches.

More: Walking a mile in their shoes, local donations help foster children

Arkansas Family Alliance partners with churches and organizations to help foster children in the county.

On Thursday, May 16, a luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Sagely and Edwards Realtors lawn at 3101 Rogers Ave.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Shoes collected during Fort Smith 'Walk a Mile' drive to be on display