BURLINGTON – November 27, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — Fletcher Allen’s Orthopedics department holds its sixth annual Soles4Souls shoe event at the COTS Daystation at 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012.
“We are so thankful to everyone involved with the Soles4Souls project for providing this service to help those in need in our community,” said COTS executive director Rita Markley.
Soles4Souls in National News |
Soles4Souls in Social Media |
The Soles4Souls (www.soles4souls.org) is a yearly event dedicated to providing less fortunate people across the nation with free foot screenings and footwear.
Vendors donate shoes, and doctors provide foot exams.
Orthopedic surgeon Jim Michelson, MD, spearheads Fletcher Allen’s volunteer effort. He will be joined by several nurses and assistants from the hospital, as well as Doug Shaw, an orthotist at Orthotekniks in Williston.
The COTS Daystation is designed to be a low-threshold support system and central space for clients to connect with services. A noontime meal is served 365 days a year. Staff regularly assists guests with employment, housing, educational presentations, health screenings and veterans outreach. Guests participate in jobs and housing groups. They receive mail, email and phone messages, do laundry and access a computer.
A violent storm flooded and destroyed the Daystation’s previous home in July 2012. COTS continues to operate the program from an interim location. First United Methodist Church of Burlington has generously donated space to host the Daystation in their parsonage this winter. COTS is working to build a new permanent home for the program.
This past year, 987 individuals – an average of 48 people per day – visited the Daystation to access COTS services and community resources.
Founded in 1982, the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) provides emergency shelter, services, prevention outreach and housing to homeless families and individuals, as well as services to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. (Learn more at www.cotsonline.org).
f Facebook Comments |
