OHIO — Shoes are an everyday item many might take for granted, but for those who don’t have access to a pair, life can be very difficult.
That’s why Daniel Matea started Heart and Soles Ministries in 2018 — to provide shoes to people in need across the world.
“I just want to leave the world a little better than when I found it,” Matea said.
Heart and Soles Ministries is now on four continents. Matea also donates shoes to those in need right here in Ohio.
“I don’t think people realize how much a good pair of shoes effects you. When your feet are cold or wet and it hurts all of the time and it’s all you can feel is how bad that pain is,” he explained. “A good pair of shoes for someone can give them so much joy and so much comfort, especially if you have never owned a pair of shoes before.”
Right now, he is getting ready to go to Poland to hand out shoes for the Ukrainian refugees.
He will leave at the end of May.
Matea said he felt called to help the people of Ukraine after seeing a story on the news about a family of Ukrainians who had to walk to Poland.
“I remember thinking that is horrific, like that is horrible,” he recalled. “Then I saw their shoes, and the one girl’s shoes were tore up, and I didn’t even know how far along in the journey she is, but I thought by the time she would get there, her feet are going to be hurting.”
He’s partnered with organizations already on the ground in Poland so that they will continue to provide shoes for refugees, even after he leaves.
He will purchase the shoes once he gets into the country.
“We will be finding out what type of shoes they need, whether it is sandals or boots,” he explained. “You don’t just want to buy boots and then they are like, ‘well, we don’t need boots,’ and then we will be working with some of the local stores to buy those and drop them off and give them to people.”
If you would like to donate, you can go to their Facebook page or website.
“There is no way we can help everyone,” he said. “If we can help someone, that is all that matters, so that is our mission.”
