Local family hosting shoe drive to fund a ‘peace of mind’

Mason, who is now 16, has mobility issues and his parents, Mark and Carletta Bryant of Jefferson Twp., are trying to raise enough money to buy a service dog for him through a unique fundraiser that seeks shoe donations.

“His lungs are just not as strong as a typical 16-year-old boy and if that disease surfaces, we could be in a lot of trouble,” Carletta Bryant said. “The service dog is going to give us a peace of mind as parents to be able to alert us when Mason is in respiratory distress.”

The service dog would also pick up things he may drop, hold doors when he is pushed in his wheelchair through an entrance that does not have automatic doors, and of course be a companion, his mother said.

The dog would be purchased from Paws 4 Ability based in Greene County and would cost the Jefferson Twp. family $17,000.

“We started off on Facebook with just family and friends. It was posted between 60 to 90 days and raised $9,925,” she said. Leaving the family to raise a little over $7,000.

The family is holding a used shoe collection event on June 19 in Dayton to help raise the money needed.

Mason will earn funds based on the total weight of the shoes collected through the nonprofit Funds2Orgs. The nonprofit will purchase all the donated footwear and will redistribute them through a network of microenterprise partners in developing nations.

“We know that most people have extra shoes in their closets they would like to donate to us and help those less fortunate become self-sufficient. It’s a win-win for everyone,” Mark Bryant said.

In addition to raising the money for her son, Carletta Bryant said the fundraiser also is a way to bring awareness about rare medical conditions and people who live with special needs.

Shoe collection sites

Dayton Public School’s Welcome Stadium Parking Lot D at 1601 S. Edwin Moses Boulevard from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 19

Those interested in donating can take shoes to other drop locations around the area including: