Taking Senior Project Another Step

For her "senior project" last year, Gabby Palko of Barrington collected shoes for "One Day Without Shoes" -- an international charitable project run by TOMS, a shoe company that provides shoes for people without them.

She ended up collecting more than 2,000 pairs of shoes.

"I paired them up, tied them together, tallied each and every pair, then packaged them up and shipped them away," said Palko, now a Colorado College student. "I found out they were sent to Costa Rica, where they were distributed to people in need."

"While this was very rewarding," Gabby said, "I didn’t feel fulfilled. I wanted to be there, personally handing out the shoes and lacing them up on people’s feet."

So, what is she doing now to find that fulfillment she missed last year?

"I'm entering a contest with TOMS to be part of a 'giving trip'." she said.  "If I win, I'll be flown out to one of their giving destinations, and actually partake in distributing shoes to children who need them."

Gabby would lik your help again -- actually your votes.

"I received so much community support last year, and I'm reaching out again," she said. See the Patch story on her senior project last year.

All you have to do this year is click here to vote for her.