Local Woman Finds Something Worth Sharing with the World

Mona Purdy always enjoyed running when she was growing up in Chicago, but she never knew her hobby would one day lead to her passion.

In 1999, Purdy traveled with a friend to Guatemala to take part in a race. While she was there, she was struck by how poor the living conditions were, particularly for children. Purdy noticed most kids didn’t have the luxury of wearing shoes, and some even walked around with hot tar on their feet.

It was then Purdy knew she needed to do something about it. Share Your Soles was started.

“It’s the only job my mom has,” said Morgan Purdy, Mona’s oldest child. At 19, Morgan currently helps run part of the company out of her home in the Loop. “What makes us different from other organizations is that my mom actually goes to the places and puts the shoes on the kids’ feet.”

Since beginning the non-profit organization in 1999, Share Your Soles has taken the Purdy family all over the world, from Nicaragua to Haiti, Mexico and Kenya.

In April, Mona Purdy will fly to Honduras after picking up one of the organization’s biggest endorsements yet. Purdy will meet with the country’s president and first lady and be given a crew to help distribute more than 20,000 pairs of shoes.

This will be Share Your Soles’ second trip to Honduras. In November 2007, they shipped over 14,000 pairs of shoes and distributed wheelchairs, crutches and canes to the elderly in the Central American nation.

In nearly a decade, the organization has helped thousands of children. Yet, Share Your Soles exerts caution when making shipments; the recipients of their gestures often face danger.

“In the past when we’ve shipped new shoes, children can get beaten up and have the shoes stolen from them,” Purdy said. “We also have to pay taxes on them.”

When the organization first started, the shoes were stored in the Purdy’s south suburban home. Now the shoes go to a large warehouse in Alsip that is decorated with national newspaper and magazine clippings.

In 2005, Purdy was named one of Chicago Magazine‘s Chicagoans of the Year. She has also been featured by Newsweek, ABC, and WGN. Recently, Purdy was a presenter at the Chicago Music Awards.

After shoes are donated by local schools, churches or other states, they get washed, disinfected, and boxed. Only gently warn shoes are accepted.

Share Your Soles also collects rollerblades and spikes, which are very popular in soccer playing countries. However, some footwear remains off limits.

“We can’t collect high heels because in many countries in Central America, girls that where them are considered prostitutes,” Morgan said.

Purdy agreed. She emphasized that her mission is not about providing impractical fashion luxuries.

“Most of the countries I work with are very undeveloped with no electricity or running water,” Purdy said. “There are no paved roads. It’s not like high heels would help anyone either way.”