2019 was a record year for SJC Rotary's Shoes for the Soul project in Tijuana with more than a 40% increase over last year. SJC Rotary and other clubs in District 5320 (San Clemente and Yorba Linda Sunrise) funded the purchase of the shoes. For many of the children, this is the first NEW pair of shoes they've ever received.
In past years the shoes were purchased/donated from the U.S. but Mexican Customs outlawed the effort. This year, the U.S. clubs raised the funds and the members Rotary E-Club De Noroeste Global of Tijuana purchased the shoes locally for $15/pair. Working to a list of children, sizes and classes, they wrapped the shoes and affixed the label with the child's name, class, gender and shoe size.
The SJC and Irvine Rotarians drove to the border, were picked up in a mini-bus, and transported to the middle school for the distribution.
