Jimmy Standfast, district governor for Rotary District 6080, spoke to Rotarians about community efforts at Wednesday's Fulton Rotary Club meeting.
Standfast spoke about some of the goals of Gordon McInally, president of Rotary International for 2023-24. One of these goals was for clubs to "do work in the area of international exchange virtually," Standfast said. The goal is to connect people who have technology to those that do not have access to technology.
Standfast said McInally is also encouraging clubs to do projects that empower girls.
He shared with Rotarians information about Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala), which is a group that seeks to incorporate horses into mental health treatment.
Standfast said working with Eagala could be a potential project for the Fulton Rotary Club.
He also spoke about Shoes for Orphan Souls, which seeks to provide shoes to children around the world.
Clubs across District 6080 are competing against each other to see who can donate the most shoes.
World Polio Day is Oct. 24, and clubs are being asked to organize an event for this day.
After Standfast spoke, Donnie Bonuchi with Shoes From the Heart spoke about this organization. Fulton Rotary president Stephanie Vollmer said the club might partner with Shoes From the Heart for an event.
Shoes From the Heart is based in Macon and provides shoes to children in need. The organization was started in 2012, and now serves in 21 states across the country.
He said they help out at a variety of locations, such as schools and shelters.
Shoes From the Heart also provides free shoes to veterans who need shoes to work, Bonuchi said.
The group buys every pair of shoes they provide. None of their shoes are donated, he said.
He said the experience of providing a pair of shoes to a child and seeing them run around in them is very rewarding.
The group donated 50 pairs of shoes to the Callaway County Health Department on Wednesday morning. Those shoes were then donated to schools across the county.
To learn more about Shoes From the Heart, visit shoefromtheheart.org.