Monday, January 10th, 2022—Utica Academy of Science 4th grade students in Mrs. Winter's class put their creativity to work to help make a difference and impact in the lives of thousands of people in Uganda by hosting a 'Shoe Party' on National 4th Graders day! The shoe party will benefit the non profit organization, Sole Hope who helps restore the health, and hope of the citizens in Uganda by using jeans and turning them into shoes to help prevent jigger infestation for the people who wear them.
For those not familiar with jiggers, thousands of vulnerable people in Uganda suffer from this crippling parasite. In fact, Jiggers keep kids from going to school, running, and playing. They prevent people from walking and working.
During the shoe party, the Atoms played a vital role in preparing the shoes by cutting out shoe pattern from an old pair of jeans. From here, the fabric will be used to finish the handcrafted shoes in Uganda and will allow the citizens to protect their feet from the harsh conditions. Each year, Sole Hope handcrafts roughly 11,000 shoes, and with the help of the Atoms they are just one step closer!
What an inspiring story, Atoms - way to make a great difference and impact in the world!
