February 23, 2026
The Tide® ministry’s ‘Your Soles — Their Souls’ shoe drive changes lives one pair at a time
A pair of shoes becomes someone’s economic opportunity, someone’s education and someone’s step toward a brighter tomorrow
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. — The Tide® (www.thetide.org), a global Gospel broadcast ministry located on three continents, is taking the common phrase “Walk a mile in their shoes” and putting it into action through the fifth annual “Your Soles — Their Souls” shoe drive.
“It’s a simple but powerful line that serves as a reminder of how many of us live with comforts and opportunities others can only dream of, and that compassion isn’t just understanding another person’s struggle… it’s then doing something about it,” said Don Shenk, Director of The Tide® (www.thetide.org) ministry. “What if someone with little means could, however, walk a mile and many more in your shoes? While it may not take away all of life’s struggles, it can definitely improve them.”
Now until March 31, individuals, families, churches, schools and businesses are coming together to collect new and gently worn pairs of shoes for the “Your Soles — Their Souls” shoe drive, which sparks real change around the world. Through both micro-enterprises in developing countries and literacy classes to villagers in India who may not otherwise have the means to learn how to read and write in their own language, each pair of shoes is an opportunity for someone to learn about the love of Christ’s community.
“Every year in the United States alone, 2.4 billion pairs of shoes are sold, with the average American household purchasing about seven pairs per person. In contrast, across the globe, a staggering 1 billion people (including 300 million children) do not own even a single pair of shoes,” said Shenk.
“That gap between abundance and absence is more than a statistic, it’s a daily reality for children who can’t walk safely to school, for adults who are unable to work without protection from the elements, and for families trapped in cycles of poverty without the simplest tool we take for granted.”
Here’s how donations through The Tide’s shoe drive make an impact:
- Economic empowerment: After the drive, all the new and gently worn shoes collected are picked up by another organization that uses the shoes to support people in developing countries around the world, providing them with the opportunity to start a micro-business to help support their families.
- Literacy and learning: The funds raised also supportliteracy classes in India, where villagers learn to read and write, opening doors to education and opportunities they may never have had. These classes also share love, hope and encouragement rooted in faith.
During last year’s shoe drive, The Tide collected 7,550 pairs, raising over $4,000. This year, the ministry has raised its goal to 10,000 pairs; 2,809 pairs have already been collected toward this year’s goal.
With over 50 churches and collection sites, The Tide is hopeful that Christians will support their brothers and sisters around the world.
Here are a few of The Tide’s collection sites:
- Chambersburg, PA: Albright LIFE, Corning Credit Union, CVBA Office, The Spring Family Church, and more
- Dillsburg, PA: Kingdom Focused Financial
- Elizabethtown, PA: Conoy BIC Church
- Fairfield, PA: Iron Springs BIC
- Fayetteville, PA: Comfort Keepers
- Greencastle, PA: A Plus Settlement Services and Bosko Family Chiropractic
- Hagerstown, MD: OSRKKA Academy, Inc
- Harrisburg, PA: LifePoint Church
- Mechanicsburg, PA: Rhema Creationz and McBIC
- Schwenksville, PA: NEXT Community Church
For the full list of community collection sites and churches collecting shoes, or to get involved, click here.
From its humble origins in 1946 as a local Gospel radio broadcast in Chambersburg, PA, The Tide® ministry has grown into a global network of Christian media broadcasting partnerships committed to worldwide evangelism and discipleship. In 2008, The Tide® ministry ended all English-language programming in order to focus on developing and distributing indigenous heart-language content in areas around the world that are less touched by the Gospel. Today, The Tide® ministry works with partners in multiple countries across three continents to broadcast Gospel-centered messages via radio, satellite TV and other media. In order to make disciples and plant churches, The Tide® ministry also provides resources for literature distribution, correspondence courses, discipleship and leadership training activities, and the distribution of radios and media players.
For more information about The Tide® ministry broadcast projects, history, radio programs around the world, special year-long campaigns, the weekly Global Update radio features or other news, visit its website at www.thetide.org or its Facebook page.
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To schedule interviews with Don Shenk, director of The Tide® global radio ministry, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.
To inquire about airing any of The Tide® ministry radio broadcasts, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.
