These things matter and are vital to the success of the mission. But what really matters to Yorks is to see the impact first-hand with recipients, especially children.

One little girl walked away wearing a new sequin-covered pair of shoes with bows.

“She was shy and didn’t say much but her smile said it all,” said Yorks of the May 9 visit to the Juniata County elementary schools. “She loved her new socks also and wore them out of the room. She was walking out with confidence. You couldn’t wipe the smile off my own face seeing her so happy.”

Yorks, who reached an unbelievable milestone of 100,000 pairs of shoes donated in September 2024, is hosting a drive-thru shoe collection event on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Friendship Fire Co. parking lot, 212 W. Fourth St., Port Royal.

Photo courtesy of AUNT ABBY’S SHOE MISSION
Abby Yorks sorts socks that she will give to the needy as part of the shoe mission in Port Royal.

This is in partnership with Soles4Souls, a global non-profit that creates opportunities for people through shoes and clothing. The collected shoes will go to help entrepreneurs in low-income countries start and sustain small businesses selling shoes.

Yorks hopes for a good response as Soles4Souls will be picking up around 15,000 pairs from her in a few weeks.

“S4S contacted me that they are in need of our used shoes for their micro enterprise program,” Yorks said. “They are sending a tractor trailer the day after Memorial Day to take whatever I have. Going into the Friday event we will have over 16,000. We are hoping to be able to send 20,000 on the truck. We are happy for everything that the community has done to help.”

Stories like these simply pull at your heartstrings. The same day, a young boy came in for his new shoes, Yorks recalled.

“The nurse told us he really likes them but was being shy,” Yorks explained. “Before we left I gave the nurse five pairs of various sizes and clean socks.”

From there, Yorks and her friend went to Mifflin County Shelter Services in Lewistown, where they had received requests for shoes. Yorks had given those in need a few times previously and left extra pairs there for clients.

For Yorks, the people are what the mission’s work is all about.

“I will never apologize for anything I do for this mission,” she said. “Glory be to God for giving me this mission to fulfill for Him.”

For more information, find the mission on Facebook.