WaterStep, a nonprofit organization that works to save lives with safe water, is asking for the Louisville community's help to reach its goal of filling a tractor trailer with shoes by Sunday, March 22, 2015. Businesses, churches, schools, families and individuals are asked to host shoes drives and donate the collected shoes to WaterStep. The organization will sell the shoes and use the proceeds to fund water projects in communities in the developing world. Approximately 22,000 pairs of shoes need to be collected before March 22nd, which is World Water Day, for WaterStep to reach its goal.

The timing of this city-wide call to action coincides with the release of Disney's new Cinderella movie, which opens March 13th. The story of Cinderella is a fairytale that demonstrates how one shoe can change a life. In reality, thousands of shoes can truly change the world through WaterStep's work.

WaterStep's shoe program not only generates funds for the organization, but it also keeps tons of waste out of landfills by repurposing the shoes. To get information on hosting a shoe drive, call (502) 567-7463, or visit waterstep.org to find a list of shoe drop-off sites around the city. Any size, style, and condition of shoes is accepted.

Shoes can also be dropped off at the WaterWorks Museum at Louisville Water Tower Park on Sunday, March 22nd from 10:00am-5:00pm during a special World Water Day event. Attendees can learn about water around the world, with a special focus on Uganda, and explore our local resource -the Ohio River.

WaterStep is preparing for its next major water project in the Kaabowa village of Uganda, where the 1300 villagers are forced to spend large portions of their small incomes on medicine and transportation to distant hospitals as a result of waterborne illnesses.

Worldwide, over 748 million people lack access to safe drinking water, and waterborne disease is a leading cause of death around the world. In 1992, the United Nations created "World Water Day" on March 22 as a day for organizations around the world to focus attention on the global issues surrounding water.

*Louisville Drop-off sites*

About WaterStep

WaterStep, headquartered in Louisville, Ky, is a 501(c)(3) organization that works to empower communities with training and technology to provide safe, sustainable water and hygiene solutions. For 20 years, WaterStep has worked to improve the lives of more than one million people in almost two dozen countries including Haiti, Kenya, India, the Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Tanzania, and Costa Rica. To learn more, call (502) 568-6342 or visit waterstep.org.