A Delafield woman has collected more than 1,000 pairs of shoes to help pay for a service-learning program trip to Guatemala to provide free dental care to underserved communities there.
Kaitlyn Michalek, a 2019 Kettle Moraine High School graduate and current University of Wisconsin-La Crosse sophomore, was recently accepted into a service-learning program through the nonprofit Vida Volunteer. In January, she will travel to Guatemala with 40 UW-La Crosse students to provide free dental, medical and veterinary care there. Along with predentistry students, premedical and preveterinary students will also join the trip.
To pay for the trip, Michalek is running a shoe drive, in partnership with Funds2Orgs, which redistributes shoes to micro-entrepreneurs in developing countries to promote commerce, diminish poverty and provide proper footwear to those in need.
"Based on everything they're doing, I was really inspired to partner with them to help pay for my trip because everything they do is for a good cause," Michalek said of Funds2Orgs.
Michalek said she has already collected more than 1,000 pairs of shoes in Lake Country; her goal is to collect at least 2,500 pairs of shoes by Oct. 6.
The trip will cost roughly $2,000; that 2,500 pairs of shoes will pay for half of the trip, Michalek said. Funds2Orgs will pay Michalek based on the weight of the shoes collected, about 40 cents per pound.
Michalek also has set up a GoFundMe account for people who want to support her cause through money donations.
"I've received so much support from the community, from strangers, that have just contacted me and they're saying 'Hey, we can help,'" said Michalek. "I've had people saying they'll disperse flyers throughout their neighborhoods, too."
The idea
Michalek heard about the trip and Funds2Orgs through UW-La Crosse, where she is studying predentistry and Spanish. She said she wanted an opportunity to volunteer and help people. Michalek was also having trouble finding shadowing opportunities with local dentists because of the pandemic.
"I know through this trip, it will definitely give me a lot of good volunteering, shadowing hours, as well as just a great overall cultural experience learning about Guatemala," Michalek said. "Since I'm studying Spanish, too, that is also going to be great for me because they speak Spanish there. It will definitely help me on my Spanish-speaking abilities."
Michalek said she knows other students who have gone on the trip before.
"They all say it's a fantastic experience, and I want to be a part of that," she said.
Shoe distribution, trip structure
Once Michalek's drive is over, Funds2Orgs will pick up the shoes and distribute them to 26 developing countries, including Guatemala.
Michalek plans to leave for Guatemala on Jan. 4, and will be there through Jan. 16. The group will use health precautions while there.
"They're saying they really don't want to cancel this trip because they don't want to abandon the communities down there that rely on us because they don't receive dental, medical or veterinary care for their pets because it's so expensive," Michalek said. "This Vida Volunteer trip, it really helps them a lot because it's all free. All the care that we provide to them is free."
Michalek said the timing of her fundraiser is perfect because of racial unrest nationwide, as well as concerns over the pandemic.
"Having this fundraiser, this shoe drive and seeing people come together, even during these really tough times, is really inspiring, and I'm very excited to see how far this goes," she said.
To donate shoes, drop them off at a donation box at Endurance House, 2736 Hillside Drive, Delafield, or send an email to kaitlyn.michalek@yahoo.com to arrange a dropoff with her.
Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlecJohnson12.
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