Reliable Grassroots Connections

We just saw this article on The New York Times website and were inspired to write a blog entry. Unfortunately, not all the charitable contributions sent to needy individuals throughout the world reaches actually reach hungry mouths. It's possible that half the food aid sent to Somalia is sold off by corrupt officials, including radical Islamic militants and even United Nations World Food Program employees! Instead of children suffering from kwashiorkor and other malnutrition illnesses being nourished with the food provided by intergovernmental and non-governmental agencies, greedy individuals feel the need to profit. Hungry mouths stay hungry, more people continue to die from starvation and immorality is fueled by good-samaritanship.

Cleats For Bare Feet may not be putting food in the stomachs of the famished, but the relationship remains the same. Soccer cleats sent abroad can fall into unfortunate hands and not reach the kids for whom they were meant. Instead of becoming the next Pelé, children risk continuing to kick makeshift soccer balls with their bare skin. That's why Cleats For Bare Feet has been doing all that we can to find reliable, trustworthy grassroots organizations and individuals to whom we can send soccer cleats domestically and abroad. We have connections in the United States, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, and will hopefully soon have more contacts in South Africa, Senegal, Morocco, Brazil, Costa Rica and Vietnam. 

If you know of any trustworthy person or organization who would like to be on the receiving end of some recycled, second-hand soccer cleats for needy children, contact us!