Pottstown Non-Profit Sending 1,500 Pairs Of Shoes To Dominica Following Tropical Storm Erika
By Cherri Gregg
POTTSTOWN, Pa., (CBS) -- A Pottstown non-profit that spreads love by gifting shoes to those in need is rolling up its sleeves to help the island of Dominica. More than 50 people are missing and 20 are dead there following Tropical Storm Erika.
Landslides and flooding caused by Tropical Storm Erica have destroyed hundreds of homes, bridges and roads, and according to Dominica's prime minister the tiny island is set back 20 years.
"It just really touched our hearts so we had to mobilize right away," said Holly Wassler-Miller, co-founder of In Ian's Boots.
She and her husband founded the non-profit in 2010 to honor their only son Ian who died in a sledding accident. In the 12-year-old's boots doctors found a note to persevere and have been giving away shoes every since.
"We believed it was a message from God frankly," she said.
The group got a request for 1,500 pairs of men, women's and children's shoes. Twenty volunteers packed them up this weekend and they'll be shipped to Dominica this week thanks to partner organizations.
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"It's all kind of a great web of love," she said.
Miller says each pair of shoes will include a note of encouragement and hope.
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For more information about In Ian's Boots: http://iniansboots.org/home.html