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Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer to Process Shoes
Volunteers are needed throughout the year at our Center for Humanitarian Aid and Shoe warehouse. If you live in the North Texas area, consider volunteering as an individual or scheduling a group from your church, civic organization or business to volunteer. Or, plan a mission trip to our warehouse.

We also need volunteers throughout the United States to help at regional collection centers, or your group can plan a trip to Dallas to help process shoes for a few days or a week.

Sign up here to be a volunteer!

The Shoes for Orphan Souls processing warehouse is located at:
Center for Humanitarian Aid
5405 Shoe Drive
Mesquite, Texas 75149

Click here for directions to warehouse (opens new window)

We also are seeking Volunteer Captains to assist in the warehouse. If you are interested in working alongside Buckner staff for a minimum of 4 hours a month supervising volunteers and/or packing shoes, contact our volunteer coordinator at 214-367-8080 x 1009.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign up to volunteer?
Signing up to volunteer is quick and easy. You can now do everything online.
Click here to find out more.

What will I be doing as a volunteer?
You will be helping to sort and pack the thousands of shoes received monthly at the warehouse.

Your job might include:
* cutting off price tags
* “zip-tying” shoes together
* sorting by gender, size, and type
* counting and packing shoes in shipping boxes

Where will I go to volunteer?
You will work at the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid warehouse, located in East Dallas at:
5405 Shoe Drive
Mesquite, Texas 75149

When can I volunteer?
The warehouse is open from 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday.
We encourage you to select one of two shifts (or both):
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. - 4:30p.m.

Who is eligible to volunteer?
Anyone with a willingness to serve. Children (age 14 and under) are welcome to volunteer with an adult. And it’s the perfect activity for your church, school or community group.

What if I have a physical disability or restriction?
We welcome volunteers with disabilities. Some jobs involve sitting and do not require any lifting heavier than a pair of shoes. We will find a job that’s right for you!

What do I need to wear?
Anything comfortable.

Will there be anything to eat or drink?
Yes, we provide snacks and soft drinks and water for all volunteers free of charge. However, if you would like to bring your own lunch or snacks for the day, you are welcome to do so.

Will I need to bring anything else?
We can always use new shoes and socks.

Will we have any instructions prior to volunteering?
You will receive a brief orientation about Buckner and Shoes for Orphan Souls along with training and instructions before you begin.

Can I receive community service hours for volunteering with SOS?
Yes, your Buckner Volunteer Coordinator will be happy to sign or provide paperwork certifying your volunteer hours.

Do you need groups or individuals to volunteer?
We welcome both. Many groups find that sorting shoes together is a great bonding activity, an average shift can accommodate 30 volunteers and sometimes more. We do have many individuals volunteer as well-- some even bring their friends.

For more information about volunteer opportunities, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, at 214-367-8080 (x1009) or at sosvolunteers@buckner.org.


Travel with us to Deliver Shoes
Each year, volunteers travel with Buckner International to deliver the shoes and meet the children who benefit from Shoes for Orphan Souls. Trip participants have the opportunity to visit many different orphanages where children from infants to 18 years old live.

The cost of these trips are either for land only or include international flights. Buckner handles all the details for your overseas travel. This includes: hotels (based on double occupancy at a standard hotel), meals, cultural events, translators, in-country transportation, travel insurance and visas. Many trip participants raise their support from their family, friends, co-workers and church members to cover all or part of their trip costs.

For trip flyers, applications and more information, please contact Buckner at 1-877-7ORPHAN (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. cst) or email missions@buckner.org
Ways You Can Help

Pray for Shoes for Orphan Souls
Please pray for the children living in orphanages throughout the world and for those individuals who are working to collect shoes.

Donate to Shoes for Orphan Souls
Your gift will provide a pair of new shoes to a needy child overseas. Many of these children have never owned a new pair of shoes.

Volunteer with Shoes for Orphan Souls
Volunteers are needed to travel overseas to deliver the shoes to the children. We also need volunteers to host shoe drives and to help process shoes.

Contact Us:
* Click here to email us.
* Toll Free 1-866-774-SHOE(7463)
 

Shoes for Orphan Souls, a ministry of Buckner International, provides new shoes and socks to orphans and at-risk children in the United States and throughout the world. From conducting shoe drives to humanitarian aid trips, Shoes for Orphan Souls offers hands-on opportunities to individuals, groups and organizations that want to transform lives through social ministry. Since 1999, more than 1.5 million pairs of new shoes and socks have been distributed to 55 countries. Buckner is a fully accredited non-profit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Your gifts to Buckner are tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS


Shoes for Orphan Souls, a ministry of Buckner, is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.