Steven Henshaw: 'Shoe guys' critical to success of Wine, Women & Shoes fundraiser for homeless shelter

Steven Henshaw, Reading Eagle, Pa.
·2 min read

May 21—There's at least one day other than Thanksgiving that men in Berks County take over a kitchen to prepare a meal for dozens of people.

It's in the spring at Opportunity House in Reading. On May 9, a group whose nickname doesn't suggest culinary skills cooked and served a turkey dinner at the shelter in Reading then toured the facility.

They're the "shoe guys," prominent men in the business, education, government, and nonprofit communities in Berks. They play a crucial role in the annual Wine, Women & Shoes gala — the premier fundraising event for Opportunity House — scheduled for Thursday evening at DoubleTree by Hilton hotel along Penn Street downtown.

Wine, Women & Shoes features fashion shows, auction and raffle items, a dinner and wine-tasting, and, true to its name, a showcase of beautiful and creative shoes, with awards given for best shoes of different types worn by attendees, said Joan E. London, a lawyer with Kozloff Stoudt Attorneys, who was involved in recruiting and fundraising.

The Spring Township law firm is one of the sponsors of the event.

Opportunity House provides for immediate needs, such as food, housing, and child care, and helps residents acquire confidence, skills, and self sufficiency to get out, and stay out, of homelessness.

Last year, due to COVID concerns, Wine, Women & Shoes was held without an in-person audience in a hangar in the Reading Regional Airport.

One of the key parts of the event is a fundraiser that takes place in the weeks leading up to the main event. Each of the shoe guys competes with the others to collect the most online donations for the honor of being crowned the King of Sole at Thursday's event

As of late Friday morning, contributions to the King of Sole fundraising website totaled nearly $13,500 toward a goal of $25,000.

More information on how to support Wine, Women & Shoes and contribute to one or more of the shoe guys' King of Sole fundraiser is available at https://bit.ly/39CcaN2.