George “The Shoeman” Hutchings, founder of Shoeman Water Projects in West St. Louis County, announced Thursday that one of his associated drilling rigs that was searching for clean water in a small Kenyan village had found a safe water source for the village, school children, and medical clinics. 

The drilling rig and new clean water well are direct results of the compassion and concern of many Eureka and Wildwood residents who have donated their shoes to the Shoeman Water Project over the past several years.

Eagle Wings Ministries, Hutchings' nonprofit organization, achieves two goals with each pair of donated shoes.  The shoes are bought by organizational managers looking to get them to those in need of footwear.  Hutchings then puts the money from the shoe pr toward the budget of the drilling rig expense and water purification systems.

Congregants of Living Word United Methodist Church in Wildwood participated in several shoe drives for the Shoeman Project, making a large pile at the front of the alter.

Adam Mustoe, Living Word's director of youth ministries, also will be hosting the Shoe-Per Bowl Party II at the church on Feb. 6 at 5 p.m. Students grades 6 through 12 are invited to bring a pair of shoes to donate; watch the Superbowl on a 22-feet tall, high defintion screen; have some snacks from Chick-fil-A; and win prizes.

The Adventure Club students at Eureka Elementary School in Eureka just organized a shoe drive in November.  In past years, the Eureka Elementary School had donated more than 200 pairs of shoes to the Shoeman Water Project.

Blevins Elementary School in Eureka is organizing a shoe drive this month.

Since Hutchings began the Shoeman Water Projects in 2008, more than 1 million pairs of shoes have been donated. 

Hutchings said, “Having clean water means a decline in devastating diseases such as cholera.”

The Shoeman Water Project’s Web site is a good resource for individuals looking for ways to participate in this effort.  The Web site’s media page describes two ways to donate money:  by mail or online.   To donate new or used shoes, the nearest drop-off location will be displayed after an individual’s zip code is entered.  One Wildwood business that serves as a drop-off point is 212 Degrees of Wellness.

For more information, call 636-751­-8197 or go online.