BENEFITS WITH FRIENDS

Shoe shopping provides therapy

Volunteer Erin Sherman of Springdale sorts through and organizes shoes at Arvest Ballpark in 2013. The Walk A Mile In My Shoes … Sale on Friday and Saturday will benefit the Ozark Guidance Foundation.
Volunteer Erin Sherman of Springdale sorts through and organizes shoes at Arvest Ballpark in 2013. The Walk A Mile In My Shoes … Sale on Friday and Saturday will benefit the Ozark Guidance Foundation.

Bargain hunters will have their pick of some 4,000 gently used handbags and women’s, men’s and children’s shoes donated to the fourth annual Walk A Mile In My Shoes … Sale on Friday and Saturday. The benefit for Ozark Guidance Foundation will feature gently used, new and like-new pumps, loafers, sandals, boots, handbags, running shoes and other styles.

The sale will begin a day earlier than usual with the doors at Arvest Ballpark in Springdale opening at 2 p.m. Friday. A Designer Corner will feature new and like-new shoes and handbags from designers such as Michael Kors, Donald J. Pliner, Cole Haan and BCBGeneration. Items in that area will be $20.

Amiee York, shoe sale co-chairwoman, said the nonprofit organization chose a shoe sale as a fundraiser because it’s a way for more people to participate in giving, people who might not be able to give at a higher level. She said shoes are also symbolic of Ozark Guidance’s mission. “People are on their own journey to mental wellness … Mental illness is so prevalent, but people are reluctant to talk about it and seek help because of the negative stigma.”

The mental health organization serves some 13,000 Northwest Arkansans each year in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties, more than 4,800 of whom are children younger than the age of 18.

Proceeds from the shoe sale will go to help defray the cost of the more than $3.4 million in uncompensated mental health care for those who cannot afford it.

AT A GLANCE

Walk A Mile In My Shoes … Sale What: Gently used men’s and women’s shoes and handbags for sale for $10, children’s shoes for $5; and a designer corner for $20 per item.

When: 2-6 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday Where: Arvest Ballpark in Springdale Information: (479) 695-1240 or ozarkguidance.org

Style, Pages 27 on 01/23/2014

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