There are many ways to make a difference in the life of a child, inside the classroom and out. Sometimes all it takes is a simple pair of shoes.

Children at Dr. Emil Crisan’s medical clinic in Densus received more than medical treatment... a gift of new shoes.TFT volunteers paid their own expenses to take shoes to Romania.

Samantha Seaman Bodine, with the help of Haverford School District, collected over 600 pairs of almost new shoes for children of all ages. William Tennent High School students and staff donated 1000 pairs of new socks.

Janet Haines gets a hug from children at the Paclisa Children's Hospital.

When we left Paclisa in August 1994, four pairs of our own “well-traveled” shoes stayed behind for a few of the many barefoot children we worked with that summer.

At Thanksgiving, we brought the huge boxes of shoes and socks to the institution. In a tiny, crowded room, four hospital aides helped us unpack and distribute the new footwear. With great chatter, affection and enthusiasm, the children exchanged their ill-fitting, tattered and torn shoes for newer pairs of all sizes and styles and they received at least two brand new pairs of colorful socks.

By the light and affection in their eyes and the appreciation in their smiles you can see the difference a pair of shoes makes in the faces of the children as they take off worn out, ill-fitting ones and replace them with a warm, good-fitting pair.