Jose 'JJ' Balderas
Newly formed nonprofit PRAISE Worship is collecting shoes through Sept. 12 to help fund food deliveries, a planned free clothing store and quarterly worship events.
The organization is collecting new, gently worn and used shoes through a partnership with Funds2Orgs. PRAISE Worship will receive funding based on the total weight of the shoes collected, with all proceeds returning to its outreach programs and events.
“As long as it has no holes and it has life in the soles, that’s what we want,” PRAISE Worship Executive Director Amber Watson said.
Watson said the fundraiser will help support the ministry’s Hands & Hearts Pantry, an outreach service that delivers food to residents who cannot visit a food pantry during regular hours or do not have transportation.
The outreach program works in collaboration with the Community Caring Center and Servolution Network.
“They provide the food, and we provide the transportation,” Watson said.
Watson noted no paperwork is required to participate in the program.
“If you have a need and reach out, we’re going to provide,” she said.
Proceeds from the shoe drive will help cover operational expenses and purchase additional household items to distribute with food donations.
Watson said the program is currently welcoming volunteers to help deliver food to nearby neighbors.
The fundraiser will also support the development of Luke 3:11 Closet, a free clothing store PRAISE Worship hopes to open for people in need. Watson said much of the program has already been planned, but the organization still needs to secure a location.
Watson, who also works as the city of Azle’s utility billing manager, said the shoe drive will help PRAISE Worship expand its outreach while giving people in developing countries an opportunity to build small businesses and support their families.
“I partnered with Funds2Orgs. They basically give me everything I need to run my drive,” she said.
“I collect all the shoes and then they pay me per pound for those shoes. Those funds go back into my organization for our local community, and then they take those shoes and they distribute them to underprivileged countries,” Watson said.
Bright red donation bins are available at several locations throughout Azle, including Servolution Network’s Dream Center, Tater Club Daycare, Adventures Learning Center, Reata West Apartments and Lawrence Construction.
PRAISE Worship grew from a memorial event Watson organized for Charlie Kirk at Azle’s Central Park last year. Watson said she was amazed at the community’s response to the event that was organized rather quickly.
“That was just something that God put on my heart,” she said. “So, literally in two days, I was like ‘Let’s do this,’ and I put it out on social media. We had about 160 people show up.”
At the event, Watson met Michael Motley, who arrived with a guitar and volunteered to play worship music. After the success of the memorial event, the two began discussing how they could create welcoming worship experiences for people who may not feel comfortable in a traditional church setting.
“That’s how PRAISE Worship came about,” Watson said.
“We wanted to do something for our community that could bring people (together). We want to plant that seed and we wanted a place for our community — anything to bring them closer together for fellowship — even if they don’t believe in God or Jesus,” she said.
Since last November, PRAISE Worship has held four worship events throughout the community and plans to host a Revival Rave in September featuring a DJ and food trucks.
Motley serves as worship director, and the organization received its nonprofit status in March.
Watson’s previous volunteer experience with CASA, a nonprofit organization that trains volunteers to advocate for children in the foster care system, has helped prepare her to organize events, advocate for children and build relationships with other community organizations.
She said her own difficult childhood inspired her to volunteer with CASA and later take on the new venture of establishing a nonprofit that hosts quarterly worship events while giving back to the community.
“That’s what brought me to volunteering with CASA and now with PRAISE,” she said.
“I can relate to those children in those circumstances because I’ve been there. Furthering my relationship with God has brought me to where I am today and I want to share that with others. I want others to know that he is there for them,” Watson said.
