A simple pair of children’s shoes may not look powerful, but they can make a big difference in the lives of orphans around the world.

Rotary Club of Bogalusa is teaming up with Buckner International to ask Bogalusa residents to collect shoes for children in need. The annual nationwide “Shoes for Orphan Souls” shoe drive is seeking to collect more than 250,000 pairs of new shoes, socks and shoestrings, through a nationwide campaign. Since 1999, Buckner has sent more than 2.2 million pairs of new shoes to vulnerable children in 74 countries around the globe, including the United States.

 “We hope that with the support of area churches, retailers and civic groups, we can help Buckner reach their goal and make this life better for children,” Bogalusa Rotary Club President Beverly Sheridan.

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“We have seen the smiles that a new pair of shoes brings to children in the orphanages we visit, and we want to extend that same joy to others like them,” said Rachel Garton, director of Shoes for Orphan Souls. “Because of the Rotary Club of Bogalusa’s commitment to this program, we can continue to increase the number of kids who will benefit.”

“Millions of children reside in orphanages throughout our world,” Garton said, “and those orphanages are not receiving enough money to care for the children’s most basic needs, like shoes and socks.”

An unexpected benefit of donating new shoes is the sense of satisfaction on the part of the person who gives.

“At Buckner, we say new shoes are good for the soul — yours and theirs,” Garton said. “A person who gives can’t help but feel as though they also have received a great gift.”

Donated items should be for children and teens, and because of customs regulations shoes and socks need to be brand new. For those preferring to make a cash donation, $25 will buy a new pair of shoes and cover distribution costs.

Collection boxes can be found in Bogalusa at Farm Bureau Insurance, 205 Austin St. In Franklinton, at Farm Bureau Insurance, 424 11th Ave.;  Franklinton Title and Insurance, 1002 Washington St., where you can get free notary work in exchange for a new pair of shoes; and Circle T, 1106 16th Ave.

For more information, call Betty Gill at 839-6442 or 985-335-4556.