52 Weeks of Charity

A Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party

Our family hosted a Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party, and what began as a simple gathering with old jeans turned into something deeply meaningful — helping create protective shoes for children in Uganda vulnerable to a painful parasitic infection called jiggers.

Before learning about Sole Hope, I had never heard of jiggers. They are tiny sand fleas that burrow into bare skin, usually in the feet, causing a condition known as tungiasis.

The infection causes swelling, open wounds, and severe pain. Many children cannot walk, sleep, or attend school because of the damage these parasites cause.

But the impact goes beyond the physical.

Children suffering from jiggers are often teased, isolated, or believed to be cursed. Families face shame and hardship. A tiny parasite creates enormous consequences affecting education, health, and dignity.

The good news is that this is a preventable problem.

And sometimes, prevention begins with something as simple as a pair of shoes.

That’s where our shoe cutting party came in.

Sole Hope provides kits that allow volunteers to upcycle old denim into shoe components. These denim pieces are shipped to Uganda, where local shoemakers assemble them into durable, closed-toe shoes. The shoes are then distributed to children during medical clinics and follow-up visits, helping protect healing feet and prevent reinfestation.

Hosting the party was surprisingly simple and incredibly impactful.

We gathered family members, spread out old jeans, traced templates onto the denim, and began cutting. It took about an hour, but the conversation and sense of purpose made the time fly. There was something powerful about knowing that every piece of denim we cut would one day become protection for a child thousands of miles away.

This wasn’t a craft night.

It was participation in a proven prevention model — one that combines medical care, education, and protective footwear to break the cycle of reinfestation.

By the end of our gathering, we had completed five kits, which translated into materials cut into patterns that would result in ten finished pairs of shoes once assembled in Uganda.

Ten children. Ten pairs of protected feet. Ten opportunities to walk, learn, and play without pain.

What struck me most about this experience was how accessible it was. We didn’t need specialized training, expensive materials, or a large space. All it required was old denim, willing hands, and a shared desire to help.

Sole Hope has spent more than 16 years working to end jigger infestations through treatment, education, and prevention. Their work includes medical care, community education, floor improvements, and locally made shoes — all focused on restoring dignity and opportunity to children and families.

At the heart of their mission is a simple belief:

Every child deserves to walk in freedom.

As part of my #52WeeksOfCharity journey, this experience reminded me that meaningful service doesn’t always require travel or large-scale events. Sometimes it starts with gathering people you love, sharing a purpose, and turning everyday materials into something life-changing.

A pair of scissors, a piece of denim, an hour of time can help carry a child toward a better future.

Learn more about Sole Hope here: Sole Hope | Shoes, Foot Care, and Healing for Children in Uganda