Shoeman Water Magic Open House on Tap March 2

There are those who say George "The Shoeman" Hutchings performs magic every day as his organization turns new and used shoes into water for undeveloped countries.

Magic will be the focus from 4-8 p.m. March 2 as Hutchings has scheduled a Water Magic Open House at his Fenton-based warehouse, 1603 Manufacturers Drive.

This free, family friendly Water Magic Open house will include strolling magic and a special performance by magician Matthew Hempel between 5-6:30 p.m., a presentation by Hutchings at 6:30 p.m., "Shoeper Star" Volunteer Awards at 7 p.m., and fun activities including a Bounce House for the kids, a hot appetizer bar, a "Decorate Your Own Cupcake" donation bar, and water purification demonstrations throughout the evening.

“This event provides a great opportunity for us to share our work with the public and to thank and honor our wonderful volunteers and supporters,” said Julie Scaglione, director of community relations for Shoeman Water Projects. “In 2011 alone, these volunteers helped us collect over 1 million pairs of donated shoes that funded water projects in Haiti and Kenya. It truly is magic that so many people give of their time to help us bring clean water to people in need by organizing drives, transporting shoes to our warehouse, and doing other essential volunteer jobs that make it possible for us to perform our “shoes to water magic” every day. We couldn’t do it without them.”

The United Nations General Assembly designated March 22 of each year as World Day for Water to focus attention on the importance of fresh water and advocate for sustainable water resources management. Water and Food Security is the theme for 2012 that focuses on the burgeoning population, with currently 7 billion people to feed and the amount of water it takes to produce our food. The UN World Water Day website at www.unwater.org, provides facts about water and food security along with actions people can take to address the challenge.

Since 2008, George, the Shoeman, Hutchings, president of Shoeman Water Projects and his staff have dedicated their efforts to bringing clean water to third world countries through grass roots donations of used and new shoes. Hutchings is known for saying, “I don’t want your money, I want your soles, your shoe soles that is!” and this has resonated with countless supporters across the country whose shoe donations have brought life-saving water to over 200,000 people around the world. Sustainability is key to the ongoing success of these missions both in the United States where people must continue to re-purpose their shoes for water and in remote areas where water is delivered and members of the community are trained to maintain wells and water purification systems and follow good hygiene practices.

Hutchings and the Shoeman Water Projects team will share their experiences and give water purification demonstrations to illustrate how donated shoes are used to create drinkable water. "Every man, woman and child from area schools, churches, businesses, community service organizations, youth groups, friends of the environment and others who want to make a life changing difference can be an ongoing part of Shoeman’s shoes to water magic. Their participation is the reason this process has worked,” Hutchings said "and by bringing in shoes to the event and organizing a shoe drive in the future, we will continue to be an unbeatable team for making clean water materialize where it is needed.”

Businesses, organizations, schools, faith communities and individuals who wish to organize a shoe drive can find more information and organizing resources on Shoeman Water Project’s website, www.shoeman.org. Anyone wanting to drop off new or used shoes can find a collection site on the website by typing a ZIP code. Shoes should have no rips or holes and be tied together.