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Shoes for Haiti


The Festival Foods La Crosse Fitness Festival is a non-profit event, donating all proceeds to local charities in the La Crosse area. The Festival is extending the charitable aspect to the collection of shoes for youth and community members in Haiti.

We will be collecting old running shoes, soccer cleats, and volleyball shoes on event weekend. The shoes collected will be given a second life, as we will be sending them to Haiti and distributed free of charge at Camp Mahaneim. The shoes will not only benefit the campers, but also those living in the surrounding community. The Festival Foods La Crosse Fitness Festival is going to have a collection bin at the packet pick-up in Riverside Park on Friday, May 4th and Saturday, May 5th. Collection bins will also be available Sunday, May 6th at the start of the Full & Half Marathon and Marathon Relay in Pettibone Park and at the finish line in Myrick Park.

The medical mission team in Haiti treats numerous cuts and infections in people’s feet, because they don’t have shoes. The need for shoes is great. In the U.S. we are so fortunate…not only to have shoes to keep our feet healthy and warm, but we regularly choose between dress shoes, running shoes, soccer cleats, sandals and work boots – shoes for many different purposes.

Ongoing support has been given to the efforts of Rod and Deb Wray, through Harvest International, for many years. Currently they are building a camp to develop young athletes in Haiti. Their vision is in part to give boys and girls, who already have natural athletic abilities, opportunities to excel and utilize their gifts. They also desire to teach the values of cooperation and team work, and offer spiritual grounding for them as well.