OSF shoe drive sets record

shoes
Home Sweet Home Ministries will receive 4,068 pounds of shoes for its Mission Mart Thrift Store. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Home Sweet Home Ministries)

By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON – OSF HealthCare’s annual shoe drive produced a record haul.

OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington brought in 4,068 pounds of shoes, topping last year’s total by 544 pounds.

The shoes that are still wearable will be donated to the Mission Mart Thrift Store at Home Sweet Home Ministries for sale. Shoes no longer wearable will be recycled.

Home Sweet Home Ministries is a full-service homeless shelter open 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, and serves those in need with daily meals, shelter, and other social services.

“OSF St. Joseph Medical Center is a fantastic community partner,” said Mary Ann Pullin, Chief Executive Officer at Home Sweet Home Ministries. “Over the past 15 years they have held this shoe drive for the benefit of individuals in our community. These shoes will be a real blessing. Many thanks to OSF and the community for their compassionate support of our ministry.”

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…