Here at Southwest, we are constantly inspired by our Customers. When we learned about Southwest Passenger Judy Lawhorn using our policies for the greater good, we knew we had to share her story. Judy has been a regular flier from Sacramento to San Diego on the way to visit her sister and brother-in-law in nearby Mexico. What’s not-so-regular is that when she checks her bags, they aren’t full of swimsuits and sunblock; they’re full of sparkly pink ballet flats, sneakers, and work boots.
While she was visiting, Judy toured an orphanage just inland from Rosarito Beach, Mexico. It was very clean and full of great caregivers, but she noticed that none of the children were wearing shoes. The orphanage doesn’t have much funding, making shoes a low priority on the shopping list.
The piece of information that caught Judy’s attention is that in this area, when a child doesn’t have clean shoes, he or she cannot attend school. Judy followed her Servant’s Heart and decided to do something to enable these children to get to school. She began collecting shoes through her neighborhood, clubs, and at garage sales nearby.
“I often find a bag of shoes at my door when I come home … never finding out who the special person was who left them,” Judy said.
When they arrived at the orphanage on the next trip, Judy and her family prepared for an exciting shoe delivery. The children take turns sitting on the back of a jeep while they get fitted Cinderella-style. For some of them, this will be their first pair of shoes.
Since her first trip down, she has delivered over 1,300 pairs of shoes! She has been able to bring her daughter along to see the happiness on the children’s faces first-hand. “It’s just my little way of making a difference,” Judy shared.
We can’t get enough stories about our Customers making a difference in their communities, and we’re so grateful that Judy uses our Bags Fly Free policy on these trips. Thanks for spreading the LUV!
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