Soles4Souls in Memory of Michael "Hendo" Henderson
By Julie Perine on March 30, 2013
The March 17 death of 22-year-old Michael Henderson spurred major response from the community shown through personal support to the family and generous contributions to a charitable cause.Rather than purchasing flowers to express their sympathy, friends and family were asked to consider the purchase of new or gently-worn shoes or a cash donation to the international organization, Soles4Souls.
It just made sense, said Henderson’s aunt, Cathy Henderson Jones. Michael loved sneakers and he loved people. Seeing that those in need of shoes received them was a fitting tribute.
The family aspires to touch thousands of lives in Michael’s honor by raising $10,000 through Soles4Souls® Inc. Since 2004, the organization has been the catalyst in providing nearly 4 million pairs of shoes to victims of major disasters and those residing in underdeveloped corners of the world.
The organization was founded by Wayne Elsey and inspired by the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami which hit Southeast Asia. The TV image of a single shoe washing up on shore started wheels turning and after getting some footwear industry executives on board, a quarter of a million pairs of shoes were provided to tsunami victims in effected countries. Shortly thereafter, Hurricane Katrina occurred and Elsey again put his plan in action, this time providing more than a million pairs of shoes to gulf coast communities. It seemed there was an ongoing need for the service, so Elsey ultimately created Soles4Souls.
In her worldwide humanitarian work, Jones has seen first-hand how organizations like Soles4Souls continually come to the rescue. An audiologist in La Quinta, Calif., Jones travels to Haiti working to establish sustainable hearing healthcare. She has also become involved with several other programs to reestablish orphanages, churches and schools demolished in the 2010 earthquake. Most recently, she served as an advisor and on-site volunteer with the Cite Soleil Opportunity Council and Haiti Clinic in Port Au Prince.
It was actually Michael’s aunt and uncle, Kelly and Chuck Steele, who selected the organization Soles4Souls Inc. as Michael’s memorial cause.
During Michael’s March 20 funeral visitation at All Saints Catholic Church, his family members sported sneakers in Michael’s memory. Community members brought in boxes, bags and baskets of footwear – some beautifully wrapped in cellophane. Those generous gifts totaled close to 200 pairs of shoes. Additionally, over $6,800 in cash donations has generously been contributed to date.
Michael’s family said he will be missed by many, but forgotten by none. He will be remembered for his quick wit, joy for life and appreciation for simple pleasures – like eating a good meal, watching a good movie and a good pair of sneakers.
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Henderson is a 2008 graduate of Bridgeport High School and he worked as an electrical apprentice for IBEW Local 596, an employee of Brad Miller of Maximum Construction. He is the son of Tom and Traci Henderson, the brother of Megan Henderson and the girlfriend of Leigh Ann Kennedy. He is also survived by nephew Dylan; maternal grandmother, Roxanne Folio McDaniel; paternal grandparents, Clee and Betty Heaster Henderson; aunts and uncles, Cathy and Michael Jones, Cheryl and Tracy Blake, Doug and Kyong Henderson, Stephen and Alexis McDaniel, Kellie and Chuck Steele, and Sherri McDaniel; his cousins, Joshua and Stephanie Jones, Lauren and Daniel Askew, Philip, Sydney and Haley Henderson, Nathan Hefner, Paul and Alessandra McDaniel, Taylor and Rachel Steele, Hayden and Haley Stevens, Harper McDaniel, Maria and Heath Skidmore; his dearest friends, Clayton Allison, Joshua Bumgardner.To make a donation in Michael’s name, visit the Soles4Souls.org website at this link.
To read about a March 30 vigil planned by the BHS Class of 2008 to celebrate Michael's life, click HERE.
I received an email from Wayne Elsey, founder of Soles4Souls, who asked me to pass on his heartfelt sympathy to Michael's family. "I read your story and my heart breaks for this family. Please let them know that I reached out and so sorry for their loss." Elsey ended his email with the word behind this whole Soles4Souls project and the reason generosity is stirring in participating hearts - "hope."
Posted by Julie Perine
Apr. 02, 2013 at 8:22 AM EST
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