UT students are giving the small things and making huge impacts on children halfway across the world. The Walk, a local college ministry at Sevier Heights Baptist Church, has challenged students to give their shoes and money to help orphans in Haiti.

Meeting on Wednesday nights, The Walk also took a group of students to Haiti to deliver the shoes and the money directly to the orphanage.

“The first fifteen minutes at the orphanage was life changing. The conditions were terrible, and the kids just ran out and hugged us and were telling us they loved us. It was life changing,” UT student Rachel Landrith said.

People came from everywhere to get shoes, and their houses were no bigger then my closet. It broke my heart and was life changing. UT student Rachel Landrith

This is the first of two planned trips to Haiti to help out the orphanage that is run by the organization One Vision.

“Over 600 pairs of shoes were given, and a goal of $3,000 to rebuild a wall of the orphanage was met, and we actually raised close to $8,000, which will go towards new property for the orphanage,” Clark Davidson, an intern at The Walk, said.

The shoes and the money were sent to Haiti, along with the students to be delivered directly to the orphanage. One Vision and The Walk have been partnering together to help bring aid to the orphans in Haiti, and giving college students the opportunity to directly interact with the children.

“We want to inform students about social injustice, poverty and reflect Christ in a life of service towards people,” Davidson said.

The trip took place in the middle of the semester, so only a small group could go, but the goal was still accomplished.

“It was totally and completely God. I just had this overwhelming sense of urgency to go. I knew I had to go,” Landtrith said. 

The next trip to Haiti is planned for May, and the ministry is hoping to take more than 100 students to help do whatever the orphanage needs done.

“People came from everywhere to get shoes, and their houses were no bigger then my closet. It broke my heart and was life changing,” Landrith said.