Little Soles

Mission Statement

Little Soles — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:24:00 GMT

The goal of Little Soles is to bring about changes to not only the hearts of women who may be contemplating an abortion, but also the hearts of men who may be encouraging them to have an abortion. We are interested in affecting people of all ages with a greater respect for life. In addition, we also reach out to women who may have been misled and are now struggling after having an abortion. We want them to know that there is hope and forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

History

Little Soles — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:36:00 GMT

How We Got Started

The inspiration for the Little Soles Display came after viewing a similar display seen at a Lenten retreat in Vandalia, Illinois in March 2001. The display was a collection of 4,000 shoes in a huge pile and was brought to Vandalia by pro-life supporters from Boone County Iowa. To see that many shoes in a pile and to realize that each shoe represented an abortion that takes place in the United States each day is overwhelming!

It made such an impact on the founders of the Little Soles display project, Rosemary O’Connor and Ron Van Tassel of Kankakee, that they decided to begin work on their own collection of baby shoes, sizes 0-3, to circulate throughout the Midwest.

How We've Grown

How does one come up with 4,000 pairs of baby shoes? Behind this project is the story of where the shoes have come from. Initially, a letter was sent to local churches and individuals. The designated collection points were the Birthright office, St. Rose of Lima and St. Martin of Tours Catholic Churches, and the Love Christian Center in Kankakee Illinois. Next, a mass mailing was done to churches in Kankakee and Will Counties and Catholic schools.

Donated shoes have not arrived in huge quantities at one time. Most often shoes have been sent a few pairs at a time. Shoes have been sent by children, individuals, church groups, councils of Catholic women, and families. One single mother of two children who frequented garage sales made it her mission to find shoes to contribute. Over a summer she contributed 140 shoes. Shoes have come from as far away as Los Angeles, California; Estes Park, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; and from all over Illinois.

Collecting shoes can be a positive opportunity to talk about abortion, adoption, and reverence for life at all ages. Those who might not otherwise have a venue for this discussion are able to talk to those at garage sales, resale shops, and to family members and friends.

After handling the shoes while setting up and taking down the display, one begins to relate to the shoes and can readily recognize new shoes which have been added to the pile while on display at a location. One cannot but help thinking about who wore the scuffed shoes and what has become of the person who outgrew them. Just think about your favorite pair of shoes, of seeing your loved one’s shoes by the door, or of the difficult task of disposing of a loved one’s shoes after they are deceased.

The current count is 3,399 shoes.

Special Shoes

Little Soles — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 02:52:00 GMT

Among the collection there are some special shoes with special stories.

One sad grandparent donated two sets of shoes – a pair for a girl with a girl’s name tucked inside and one for a boy with a boy’s name tucked inside. She related that her grandchild was aborted and these were the names that had been selected for the child.

One anonymous donor left a single antique shoe with a hand written note...

Another grandparent donated a pair of shoes from her living grandchild. The grandparent's daughter became pregnant while receiving radiation for Hodgkin's Lymphoma. She chose to discontinue the chemo therapy and all treatment in order to save the child's life, against her doctor's advice to abort the baby. This young mother died when the baby was nine months old...

Another notable donation was a shoe for a handicapped child with a brace...

Other shoes simply stand out...

Some shoes traveled great distances...

Sometimes shoes arrive with a soleful message...

...or with a letter explaining their symbolic ties...

Others are laced with years of history...

Still others arrive in packs with their eyes on heeling...

In the News

Little Soles — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Jill Stanek's Pro-Life Pulse, May 18, 2009:
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2009/05/little_soles.html#more

Handmade for Life, May 15, 2009
http://handmadeforlife.blogspot.com/2009/05/little-soles.html

Pro-Life News (Griffith, IN), May 21, 2006:

The Catholic New World, October 9, 2005:

The National Catholic Register, August 14-20, 2005:

The Candor (The Student Newspaper of Benedictine University),
November 23, 2004:

Joliet Catholic Explorer, October 22, 2004:

View the Display

Little Soles — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:23:00 GMT

The display at the Valparaiso Law School.

Upcoming Events

Little Soles — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:32:00 GMT

February 20-27, 2010
St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Carey, IL

January 2010
St. Rose Catholic Church
Kankakee, IL
St. Raphael, Catholic Church
Naperville, IL

November 2009
Rochelle, IL

Past Events

October 17-25, 2009
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
St. John, Indiana

Oct 3-11, 2009
St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church
Lisle, IL

Sept 19-27, 2009
Harvest Festival
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church
Hampshire, IL

September 4-13, 2009
St. Walter's Catholic Church
Roselle, IL

August 2009
Kankakee County Fair
Kankakee, IL

July 14-20, 2009
Iroquois County Fair
Crescent City, IL

Apr 18 - 26, 2009
Sacred Heart
Annawan, IL

Mar 21-29, 2009
St. Mary's
Oregon, IL

Mar 7 - Mar 15, 2009
St. Catherine
Prophetstown, IL

Feb 21 - Mar 1, 2009
Immaculate Conception
Fulton, IL

Feb. 2009
Sts. Peter & Paul
Valparaiso

Feb. 7-15, 2009
Immaculate Conception
Fulton, IL

Jan 31, 2009
SpeakOut Illinois 2009
Westin Lombard Yorktown Center
Lombard, IL

Jan. 17-25, 2009
St. Mary
Huntley, IL

Jan 2-13, 2009
St. Teresa
Kankakee, IL

Dec. 7-14, 2008
St. Peter
Spring Grove, IL

Nov. 23-30, 2008
Sacred Heart
Sterling, IL

Nov. 9-16, 2008
St. Mary
Tampico, IL

Oct 11-19, 2008
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
Kankakee, IL

Sept 26 - Oct 6, 2008
St. Jude Catholic Church
New Lenox, IL

Sept 13-21, 2008
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
Naperville, IL

June, 2008
St. Rose Catholic Church
Kankakee, IL

May 16-31, 2008
St. Patrick Catholic Church
Chesterton, IN

May 2-16, 2008
Christ the King Catholic Church
Lombard, IL

April 14, 2008
Adrian College
Adrian, Michigan

February 9-23, 2008
Holy Family Catholic Church
Rockford, IL

Raising up a New Generation
SpeakOut Illinois 2008 Conference
Saturday, February 2
8:30 a.m to 3 p.m.
Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Pro-life student group Jus Vitae welcomed the Little Soles Display to the Valparaiso University Law School.
The display was in the school atrium January 20-26, 2008.

Oct. 18-31, 2007
St. Mary
Woodstock, IL

Oct 6-18, 2007
St. Rita
Rockford, IL

2007
St. Peter & Paul
Cary, IL

June, 2006
St. Thomas the Apostle
Crystal Lake, IL

How to Help

Little Soles — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 03:03:00 GMT

The Little Soles Display needs your help. If you are interested in assisting us, the following is a list of needs:

Benefactors to assist with monetary costs to move the display and the cost of trailer insurance.

Volunteers willing to take the display and schedule it at various locations in their area.

Prayer for God's will for Little Soles and that those who see the display will know the truth.

Shoe collectors. This can be a pro-life project for your classroom, Sunday School, Catechism, Parish, Youth group, Respect Life group, or other Church groups. See this attached file for shoe collection suggestions.

Shoe donors. Send used or new shoes, sizes 0-3, fastened together with a zip tie, if possible.

Please send donations or shoes to:
St. Rose of Lima
Attention: Little Soles
486 W. Merchant St.
Kankakee, Illinois 60901

For more information about our needs, please email us at littlesolesdisplay@gmail.com.

Testimonials

Little Soles — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:19:00 GMT

Do you have a personal story to share? Would you like to tell us how abortion or adoption has impacted your life?

Let us hear from you.

Email us at littlesolesdisplay@gmail.com