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Thursday, May 26, 2005
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Funds needed to ship shoes to Afghans BHS French Club collects more than 1,000 pairs of footwear Staff Writer When a Minnesota soldier stationed in Afghanistan put out a call for shoes to be donated to Afghans, the Brainerd High School French Club was quick to respond, collecting 1,100 pairs of shoes in the club's recent shoe drive.
But the BHS students now need about $1,000 to ship the shoes to Afghanistan.
Until the students can pay the postage to ship the shoes to Amy Nelson, a St. Cloud area soldier stationed in Afghanistan, the shoes will remain in boxes at BHS. French teacher Liz Aulie said a funding source initially agreed to pay the postage for the shoes, but as the shoe collection grew so did the shipping costs and it became more than the source could afford. Students collected the shoes during their collection drive in April. All first-hour classes competed for a chance at a pizza party as they tried to collect the most shoes.
The idea for the collection drive was sparked by Cheryl Hanson, a high school secretary whose son, Staff Sgt. Jason Hanson, recently returned from serving in Afghanistan with the 367th Engineer Battalion. Hanson had learned that Nelson had been treating many Afghan children with frost-bitten feet because they couldn't afford shoes or had been displaced from their homes because of the war and shoes weren't available to them. Nelson requested that people send her shoes so she could give them out to those who need them. Afghanistan's climate varies, much like Minnesota, but many villagers weren't wearing appropriate footwear during the cold weather.
Aulie said the shoe drive was a popular one. Students went through their closets and donated many pairs of shoes. Bermel's Shoes and Clothing in Randall donated 30 new pairs of Red Wing boots. Aulie said students collected everything from tiny baby shoes to men's large work boots.
Those who wish to help pay the shipping costs to send the shoes to Afghanistan may send donations to Brainerd High School, 702 S. Fifth St., Brainerd MN 56401. Make sure to write "Shoes for Afghanistan" on the check.
For more information, contact Aulie at 824-6210.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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