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Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Prosthetic arm thrills woman
Claudia Voican listened to an explanation about her new prosthetic arm at Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics in Spokane on March 1. She was being fitted for a prosthetic arm before she returns home to Romania. Voican was born with a blow-elbow congenital limb deficiency and has been living with only a left arm, until recently. Dr. James Said, an area doctor, met Voican at an orphanage and sponsored her trip to the United States to receive the prosthetic arm.
Monday, March 08, 2010
From Things Made Easy March 05, 2010
Review the needs of any one type of disability group of Hong Kong. To what extent they could be integrated into the community and treated in equal opportunity.
THE AMPUTEES OF HONG KONG
The term amputee refers to an individual who have lost a limb or part of a limb. Your limbs are your arms and legs. Losing a limb or part of a limb may result from illness such as diabetes, cancer and vascular diseases, injury or accidents. If a limb or part of a limb threatens the health and life of the individual, amputation or surgical removal will be the resort. The common problem in amputation is the excessive pain on the missing limb. Other problems that could possibly occur include grief, surgical complications and skin problems if the patient wears an artificial limb. Many amputees wear artificial limbs though it takes time to learn. To help the patient adjust and adapt, physical therapies are suggested for the patient to undergo.
Background
The Prosthetic and Orthotic Unit of the Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre, the first and largest rehabilitation centre in Hong Kong, conducted a 24-year retrospective study of amputees. The research conducted found out that the rising trend in amputee population Hong Kong was related to the population growth. The ratio of lower limb to upper limb amputees was 1.83 to 1. The commonest cause of upper limb amputation was trauma (89%) and of lower limb amputation was infection (35%). They also found out that the mean age of amputees in Hong Kong is 39 and that vascular diseases were not as common in Chinese as in Caucasian communities (Chan et al, 1984).
A separate research conducted by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Hong Kong found out that the orthopaedic care of an amputated patient does not stop after surgery. It is also comprised of integrating the patient back in society. There are several social problems that the patients could encounter which includes activities of daily living, ambulation, housing, employment, marriage and changes in their families. In helping them with their rehabilitation, the study also discovered the importance of the role of doctors, prosthetic services, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the medical social workers (Chow 1982).
Base on these two studies, there is a clear manifestation of the needs of the amputee community in Hong Kong. More than the physical rehabilitation or the process of putting backs the lives of the patients into normalcy, there are other needs of the amputees as social, moral, spiritual, psychological, cognitive and others. Attention must be also given to sports, entertainment, amusements, education, employment and other areas of the same weight. Put simply, there is a general need for amputees to be integrated back into the community and be treated as equals.
Integration to the Community
The psychosocial domain of amputated individuals explains the relative time needed prior to reasonable experiences of medical and rehabilitative objectives. There are associated emotional and adaptational challenges to this following limb loss. Community reintegration is central to amputee rehabilitation. In particular, it includes the resumption of family roles and community activities, emotional equilibrium, healthy coping strategies and recreational activities (Meier and Atkins 2004, p. 79). The main purpose of community integration for amputee patients is the mobilisation and leisure activities outside the clinic setting allowing them to have fun at the same time as others.
Experiences of strong emotions that include horror, numbness, rage and suicidal tendencies are addressed by these immediate community reintegration programs. The amputees obviously need psychological and mental assistance, health assistance in general. Toward recovery, there must be immediate and competent medical care, appropriate mobility equipment and adequate rehabilitation programs. There is an evident need of experienced service providers including prosthetists, physical therapists, psychiatrists and physicians as well. The impact of amputee survivors’ physical functioning, in lieu with this, facilitates an effective social and economic integration.
Coping strategies needed must also comprise of psychological factors to help amputee patients to adjust to their new roles to the society in general. For many amputee patients, religious or spiritual beliefs contribute to finding meaning in their conditions and acceptance. Amputees are constantly reminded of their spirituality. Being spiritual means searching for meaning and purpose in your day-to-day life, connecting with others and moving beyond self-absorption. The social integration and sense of community and the support that the religious community offers enhances the effects of spiritual living hence, enhance the sense of connectedness of amputees in the society with which they function as individual members (Laux and Block 2006, pp. 54-55).
Base on this, there is a need for the patients to converge in recreational activities that could provide them the confidence they once had. These activities could be emotional therapy that includes stress management, activities on expressing oneself like drawing, painting, music and others. Aside from this, there are other needs as occupational needs for the amputees. These are basic personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, toileting and other complex tasks as writing, cooking manipulating objects and driving. On a broader sense, there is a wide need for amputees to be educated, if not in traditional way, through vocational trainings. This could bring them the moral encouragement to go on with life despite their abnormal conditions.
The amputees’ human interactions also gave them value towards their perception on reality in a social setting. When the family is unavailable, often patients find support from their peers. Interaction with other amputee patients empowers them to persevere, believe in their capabilities and enable them to think that they can take care of themselves physically or otherwise. The strong and supportive environment provides comfort and motivation in the post-amputation period.
Base on this premise, there is a need for effective and functional rehabilitation centers and amputee-friendly establishments that the amputees can go together to. This increases their chance to reintegrate themselves individually in the community. Through this, the patients could also have an outlet to express their anxieties and overcome depression without jeopardising the lives of other family members who have independent lives and individual concerns to take care of.
Equal Opportunities
Discrimination and rejection have direct impact on the ability of the amputees to reintegrate socially and economically and hence, impact their psychological being as well. Societal barriers play significant role in preventing amputees from feeling valued and belongingness both as a functional member of family and community. The chance of isolation is high in terms of accessing equal opportunities. Societal attitudes toward persons with bodily defects are the main sources to account for such feeling.
The sentiments of equal opportunity for amputees should be expressed in terms of several aspects. First, on prosthetics and orthotics, amputees must be given equal opportunities on the services regardless of their social status and financial capabilities. Benefits of using prostheses and orthoses are immense in making the life of the patients less miserable. Opportunity must be also provided in terms of information on the use and the adaptation of the new device, the further impact of impairments and arranging maintenance and repairs to prostheses and orthoses (WHO 2003).
Second, on car and motoring adaptations, amputees must be given equal opportunities to get license and permits and allow them to modify their vehicles. Driving is an important mean of independence for amputees. Without relying on to others, they could carry-out tasks and take part in social activities. Essential information that drives equality purports special devices that the vehicles require, special driver training, obtaining and renewing driver’s license and limited restrictions on license (National Amputee Centre 2008).
Third, on caring/nursing services, amputees must be given equal opportunities on professional health care services and be provided with necessary welfare. The carers and the nurses as well as the charities must serve as support mechanisms for the amputee patients. This includes the pre-operative to post-operative education to providing them informations about independent organisations that could assist them financially and emotionally that are locally connected to the hospital or clinic.
Fourth, on employment and benefits, amputees must be given equal opportunities regarding the working hours that directly affects remunerations. The reduction of work hours gives rise to poor economic returns to the employer and so the employer would choose to lay-off the patients. This has direct impact on financial benefits in terms of pension and insurance. Further, the amputee would find difficulty finding a new job (Delasau).
Fifth, on legal services, amputees must be given equal opportunities in areas of advocacy and representation before the law. The cause of amputation must pass through an extensive examination so that the family of the victim could possibly locate the person responsible in case of intentional misconducts so that the rehabilitation and maintenance cost and other needs of the patient would be settled.
Sixth, on sports and recreation, amputees must be given equal opportunities to participate regardless of the racial, political and national background. The main concern is the access to participate in these areas; safety is another. Entry to sports and recreation is a real challenge for amputees. Giving amputees equal opportunities mean to provide them an active lifestyle through plenty of choices wherein they can demonstrate their strengths and creativity that, in effect, enable them to gain spirit of team working and sense of self-expression.
Bibliography
Amputees 2008, MedlinePlus, Retrieved on 16 January 2008 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amputees.html.
Chan, K M, Cheung, D, Sher, A, Leung, P C Fu, K T & Lee, J 1984, A 24-year survey of amputees in Hong Kong, Prosthetics and Orthotic International, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 155-158.
Chow, S P 1982, Social Problems of Lower Limb Amputees in Hong Kong – An Exploratory Study, Bulletin of the Hong Kong Medical Association, The, vol. 34, pp. 81-85.
Delasau, I The Impact of Amputation on Diabetic Patient in Fiji, Otago Diabetes Research Trust.
Laux, M & Block, M 2006, User’s Guide to the Top 10 Natural Therapies: Your Introductory Guide, Basic Health Publications, Inc.
National Amputee Centre 2008, License to Drive, retrieved on 16 January 2008 from http://www.waramps.ca/nac/life/drive.html
Meier, R H & Atkins, D J 2004, Functional Restoration of Adults and Children with Upper Extremity Amputation, Demos Medical Publishing, LLC.
World Health Organization 2003, The Relationship Between Prosthetics and Orthotics Services and Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
THE AMPUTEES OF HONG KONG
The term amputee refers to an individual who have lost a limb or part of a limb. Your limbs are your arms and legs. Losing a limb or part of a limb may result from illness such as diabetes, cancer and vascular diseases, injury or accidents. If a limb or part of a limb threatens the health and life of the individual, amputation or surgical removal will be the resort. The common problem in amputation is the excessive pain on the missing limb. Other problems that could possibly occur include grief, surgical complications and skin problems if the patient wears an artificial limb. Many amputees wear artificial limbs though it takes time to learn. To help the patient adjust and adapt, physical therapies are suggested for the patient to undergo.
Background
The Prosthetic and Orthotic Unit of the Kowloon Rehabilitation Centre, the first and largest rehabilitation centre in Hong Kong, conducted a 24-year retrospective study of amputees. The research conducted found out that the rising trend in amputee population Hong Kong was related to the population growth. The ratio of lower limb to upper limb amputees was 1.83 to 1. The commonest cause of upper limb amputation was trauma (89%) and of lower limb amputation was infection (35%). They also found out that the mean age of amputees in Hong Kong is 39 and that vascular diseases were not as common in Chinese as in Caucasian communities (Chan et al, 1984).
A separate research conducted by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Hong Kong found out that the orthopaedic care of an amputated patient does not stop after surgery. It is also comprised of integrating the patient back in society. There are several social problems that the patients could encounter which includes activities of daily living, ambulation, housing, employment, marriage and changes in their families. In helping them with their rehabilitation, the study also discovered the importance of the role of doctors, prosthetic services, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and the medical social workers (Chow 1982).
Base on these two studies, there is a clear manifestation of the needs of the amputee community in Hong Kong. More than the physical rehabilitation or the process of putting backs the lives of the patients into normalcy, there are other needs of the amputees as social, moral, spiritual, psychological, cognitive and others. Attention must be also given to sports, entertainment, amusements, education, employment and other areas of the same weight. Put simply, there is a general need for amputees to be integrated back into the community and be treated as equals.
Integration to the Community
The psychosocial domain of amputated individuals explains the relative time needed prior to reasonable experiences of medical and rehabilitative objectives. There are associated emotional and adaptational challenges to this following limb loss. Community reintegration is central to amputee rehabilitation. In particular, it includes the resumption of family roles and community activities, emotional equilibrium, healthy coping strategies and recreational activities (Meier and Atkins 2004, p. 79). The main purpose of community integration for amputee patients is the mobilisation and leisure activities outside the clinic setting allowing them to have fun at the same time as others.
Experiences of strong emotions that include horror, numbness, rage and suicidal tendencies are addressed by these immediate community reintegration programs. The amputees obviously need psychological and mental assistance, health assistance in general. Toward recovery, there must be immediate and competent medical care, appropriate mobility equipment and adequate rehabilitation programs. There is an evident need of experienced service providers including prosthetists, physical therapists, psychiatrists and physicians as well. The impact of amputee survivors’ physical functioning, in lieu with this, facilitates an effective social and economic integration.
Coping strategies needed must also comprise of psychological factors to help amputee patients to adjust to their new roles to the society in general. For many amputee patients, religious or spiritual beliefs contribute to finding meaning in their conditions and acceptance. Amputees are constantly reminded of their spirituality. Being spiritual means searching for meaning and purpose in your day-to-day life, connecting with others and moving beyond self-absorption. The social integration and sense of community and the support that the religious community offers enhances the effects of spiritual living hence, enhance the sense of connectedness of amputees in the society with which they function as individual members (Laux and Block 2006, pp. 54-55).
Base on this, there is a need for the patients to converge in recreational activities that could provide them the confidence they once had. These activities could be emotional therapy that includes stress management, activities on expressing oneself like drawing, painting, music and others. Aside from this, there are other needs as occupational needs for the amputees. These are basic personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, toileting and other complex tasks as writing, cooking manipulating objects and driving. On a broader sense, there is a wide need for amputees to be educated, if not in traditional way, through vocational trainings. This could bring them the moral encouragement to go on with life despite their abnormal conditions.
The amputees’ human interactions also gave them value towards their perception on reality in a social setting. When the family is unavailable, often patients find support from their peers. Interaction with other amputee patients empowers them to persevere, believe in their capabilities and enable them to think that they can take care of themselves physically or otherwise. The strong and supportive environment provides comfort and motivation in the post-amputation period.
Base on this premise, there is a need for effective and functional rehabilitation centers and amputee-friendly establishments that the amputees can go together to. This increases their chance to reintegrate themselves individually in the community. Through this, the patients could also have an outlet to express their anxieties and overcome depression without jeopardising the lives of other family members who have independent lives and individual concerns to take care of.
Equal Opportunities
Discrimination and rejection have direct impact on the ability of the amputees to reintegrate socially and economically and hence, impact their psychological being as well. Societal barriers play significant role in preventing amputees from feeling valued and belongingness both as a functional member of family and community. The chance of isolation is high in terms of accessing equal opportunities. Societal attitudes toward persons with bodily defects are the main sources to account for such feeling.
The sentiments of equal opportunity for amputees should be expressed in terms of several aspects. First, on prosthetics and orthotics, amputees must be given equal opportunities on the services regardless of their social status and financial capabilities. Benefits of using prostheses and orthoses are immense in making the life of the patients less miserable. Opportunity must be also provided in terms of information on the use and the adaptation of the new device, the further impact of impairments and arranging maintenance and repairs to prostheses and orthoses (WHO 2003).
Second, on car and motoring adaptations, amputees must be given equal opportunities to get license and permits and allow them to modify their vehicles. Driving is an important mean of independence for amputees. Without relying on to others, they could carry-out tasks and take part in social activities. Essential information that drives equality purports special devices that the vehicles require, special driver training, obtaining and renewing driver’s license and limited restrictions on license (National Amputee Centre 2008).
Third, on caring/nursing services, amputees must be given equal opportunities on professional health care services and be provided with necessary welfare. The carers and the nurses as well as the charities must serve as support mechanisms for the amputee patients. This includes the pre-operative to post-operative education to providing them informations about independent organisations that could assist them financially and emotionally that are locally connected to the hospital or clinic.
Fourth, on employment and benefits, amputees must be given equal opportunities regarding the working hours that directly affects remunerations. The reduction of work hours gives rise to poor economic returns to the employer and so the employer would choose to lay-off the patients. This has direct impact on financial benefits in terms of pension and insurance. Further, the amputee would find difficulty finding a new job (Delasau).
Fifth, on legal services, amputees must be given equal opportunities in areas of advocacy and representation before the law. The cause of amputation must pass through an extensive examination so that the family of the victim could possibly locate the person responsible in case of intentional misconducts so that the rehabilitation and maintenance cost and other needs of the patient would be settled.
Sixth, on sports and recreation, amputees must be given equal opportunities to participate regardless of the racial, political and national background. The main concern is the access to participate in these areas; safety is another. Entry to sports and recreation is a real challenge for amputees. Giving amputees equal opportunities mean to provide them an active lifestyle through plenty of choices wherein they can demonstrate their strengths and creativity that, in effect, enable them to gain spirit of team working and sense of self-expression.
Bibliography
Amputees 2008, MedlinePlus, Retrieved on 16 January 2008 from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/amputees.html.
Chan, K M, Cheung, D, Sher, A, Leung, P C Fu, K T & Lee, J 1984, A 24-year survey of amputees in Hong Kong, Prosthetics and Orthotic International, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 155-158.
Chow, S P 1982, Social Problems of Lower Limb Amputees in Hong Kong – An Exploratory Study, Bulletin of the Hong Kong Medical Association, The, vol. 34, pp. 81-85.
Delasau, I The Impact of Amputation on Diabetic Patient in Fiji, Otago Diabetes Research Trust.
Laux, M & Block, M 2006, User’s Guide to the Top 10 Natural Therapies: Your Introductory Guide, Basic Health Publications, Inc.
National Amputee Centre 2008, License to Drive, retrieved on 16 January 2008 from http://www.waramps.ca/nac/life/drive.html
Meier, R H & Atkins, D J 2004, Functional Restoration of Adults and Children with Upper Extremity Amputation, Demos Medical Publishing, LLC.
World Health Organization 2003, The Relationship Between Prosthetics and Orthotics Services and Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR), International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.
Worlds Faster Amputee
April Holmes holds sprinting records and is one of the country's premiere athletes. She just so happens to be an amputee who lost her leg in a train accident. Hattie Kauffman reports.
See the story on YouTube via CBS February 12, 2009
See the story on YouTube via CBS February 12, 2009
Friday, March 05, 2010
Amputee Empowerment Partners
Amputee Empowerment Partners community is a free resource for individuals to connect and discuss a variety of topics related to the life of amputees.
Please stop by this very nice support groups web site, you will enjoy.
James M. Wilson Sr. CO RPA
Please stop by this very nice support groups web site, you will enjoy.
James M. Wilson Sr. CO RPA
Thursday, March 04, 2010
World Health Organization
Improving road safety3 March 2010 -- Over 3000 people die on the world's roads every day. Tens of millions of people are injured or disabled every year. Children, pedestrians, cyclists and the elderly are among the most vulnerable of road users. WHO welcomes the UN General Assembly's effort to reverse this trend by launching the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020.Read the note on road safety Read more on road traffic injuries
Enhancing the rights of adolescent girls3 March 2010 -- Millions of adolescent girls live in poverty, are burdened by gender discrimination, inequality, subjected to violence, abuse and exploitation. To improve this situation, WHO along with five other UN agencies, have signed a joint statement committing to work on five priorities areas.Read the UN joint statement on the rights of adolescent girls Read more on adolescent health
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics
Background
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) was founded as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 1970, in Copenhagen, Denmark. ISPO contributes throughout the world in all aspects of science and practices associated with the provision of prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering and related areas such as wheeled mobility.
Mission
ISPO works worldwide to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities who require improvements in mobility or independence, by:
Promoting clinically relevant research and evidence based practice
Facilitating development of innovative and appropriate technologies
Conducting high quality continuing education programmes
Developing international guidelines for the education of prosthetists and orthotists
Publishing peer reviewed information in journal, text, and electronic formats
Fostering cooperation and exchange of ideas worldwide
Vision
ISPO is an international multidisciplinary organization that effectively promotes the provision of quality services, innovative technology, clinically relevant research, and education in the field of rehabilitation for persons with physical disabilities. Through its growing membership and National Member Societies (NMS), ISPO addresses the needs of both industrial and less resourced regions, advocating for best practices to governments and non-governmental organizations and advising on key relevant issues.
Education
The ISPO is committed to facilitate and enhance the educational efforts of all health care disciplines involved in prosthetics and orthotics throughout the world.
The Society has detailed appropriate education and training guidelines for the full professional prosthetist/orthotist (Category I) and for the orthopedic technologist (Category II). The philosophy and curricula are widely accepted by most of the international governmental and non-governmental agencies in this field.
ISPO compiles and reviews standards throughout the world, governing the practice of the professions concerned with prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering, and other related areas. Information exchange and dissemination is achieved through world congresses, instructional courses, workshops, conferences, educational symposia, publications, website, and audiovisual media. Furthermore ISPO provides consultation and expertise to these areas where there is an identified need for development. Upon request, ISPO evaluates P&O programmes throughout the world for ISPO Category I and II recognition. The evaluation includes students’ entry requirements, teaching content, clinical training, quality and administrative procedures.
The International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) was founded as a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) in 1970, in Copenhagen, Denmark. ISPO contributes throughout the world in all aspects of science and practices associated with the provision of prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering and related areas such as wheeled mobility.
Mission
ISPO works worldwide to enhance the quality of life for people with physical disabilities who require improvements in mobility or independence, by:
Promoting clinically relevant research and evidence based practice
Facilitating development of innovative and appropriate technologies
Conducting high quality continuing education programmes
Developing international guidelines for the education of prosthetists and orthotists
Publishing peer reviewed information in journal, text, and electronic formats
Fostering cooperation and exchange of ideas worldwide
Vision
ISPO is an international multidisciplinary organization that effectively promotes the provision of quality services, innovative technology, clinically relevant research, and education in the field of rehabilitation for persons with physical disabilities. Through its growing membership and National Member Societies (NMS), ISPO addresses the needs of both industrial and less resourced regions, advocating for best practices to governments and non-governmental organizations and advising on key relevant issues.
Education
The ISPO is committed to facilitate and enhance the educational efforts of all health care disciplines involved in prosthetics and orthotics throughout the world.
The Society has detailed appropriate education and training guidelines for the full professional prosthetist/orthotist (Category I) and for the orthopedic technologist (Category II). The philosophy and curricula are widely accepted by most of the international governmental and non-governmental agencies in this field.
ISPO compiles and reviews standards throughout the world, governing the practice of the professions concerned with prosthetic and orthotic care, rehabilitation engineering, and other related areas. Information exchange and dissemination is achieved through world congresses, instructional courses, workshops, conferences, educational symposia, publications, website, and audiovisual media. Furthermore ISPO provides consultation and expertise to these areas where there is an identified need for development. Upon request, ISPO evaluates P&O programmes throughout the world for ISPO Category I and II recognition. The evaluation includes students’ entry requirements, teaching content, clinical training, quality and administrative procedures.
The International Society of Biomechanics
The International Society of Biomechanics promotes the study of the biomechanics of movement with special emphasis on human beings; encouraging international contacts among scientists in this field, promoting knowledge of biomechanics on an international level, and cooperating with related organizations.
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
The missionThe International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.
The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
The ICRC also endeavours to prevent suffering by promoting and strengthening humanitarian law and universal humanitarian principles.
Established in 1863, the ICRC is at the origin of the Geneva Conventions and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It directs and coordinates the international activities conducted by the Movement in armed conflicts and other situations of violence.
COPE - National Rehabilitation Center
During the Vietnam War, the conflict spilled over into Laos in a secret war leaving it one of the most heavily bombed countries in history. Many of these bombs and other devices did not explode at the time. So, even though the war ended in 1975, the country is still littered with a significant amount of UXO's (unexploded ordnance) which also contributes to poverty, hunger and disability on a daily basis.
Lower Extremity Ulcers of the Legs, Ankles, and Feet
Weight Loss Makers has posted an article on Lower Extremity Ulcers of the legs, ankles and feet.
Please visit link to read article.
Please visit link to read article.
The Shoe Bank
I had someone e-mail me yesterday looking for a good place to donate shoes.My answer was The Shoe Bank; it is a great service they provide. Here is their link and mission.
The Shoe Bank
The Shoe Bank had just one goal when it was founded in 1989 – to put comfortable shoes on a few hundred homeless men living on the streets in downtown Dallas. The program today provides shoes for twenty thousand people every year – primarily children, both here and abroad.
Here's how it works. Good used children's shoes, men's and women's athletic shoes, and men's dress shoes can be donated at schools, athletic facilities, and retail stores displaying Shoe Bank depositories. The shoes are carefully inspected and then delivered to local social service agencies for distribution.
Every year, thousands of children in countries around the world receive shoes only because kids from the Dallas area take advantage of an opportunity to give through the Shoe Bank. Our children help make an important relief effort possible – and we fulfill an equally important mission by teaching them to care for those less fortunate.
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