It took a trip around the world for MacKinnon to really appreciate how good her life is. After1, the 36-year-old nurse decided that she wanted to2those she saw suffering in poverty.
"After traveling for a year3developing countries, I saw many children and adults didn't have4and suffered from a lot of diseases. So after getting home I5felt like I needed to do something," said MacKinnon, who6for Ghana in March as part of a Windsor Roseland Rotary Club-affiliated crew of 16.
MacKinnon decided she would7shoes for people in Africa and began getting the 8 out among her family and friends. After she collected the shoes, a new problem arose. At first she thought $100 would be a good total. But when she9about shipping, she was told it would cost $2,000 or so. She contacted a number of10that do aid work in Africa. "No one really can help with shoes," said MacKinnon.
Just then she had a11 to meet with a priest from Ghana who heard about MacKinnon and the fact that she was a(n)12 educator. "He wanted to13me just because diabetes rates in Ghana have risen. He14me to go to Ghana to provide some15 at the same time. I told him about my16 and he said that they would take the shoes," said MacKinnon. He said his cousin17 a shipping business and they would be able to take the shoes18.
19she originally believed the shoes would be sent in December, she got a day's notice in October that they would have to be sent in a container almost20. MacKinnon said she hoped she could set an example for others to get involved in helping the world's poor.
