Empty shoes will placed on sidewalks outside the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office on Memorial Day.

A group called Each Pair Iowa is bringing its mobile Empty Shoe Memorial and Shoe Drive to Waterloo to honor the local Iowans who have died from COVID-19 complications. As of Sunday, the coronavirus had claimed 38 lives in Black Hawk County and 456 across Iowa.

"With the massive number of cases in Black Hawk County, we felt it imperative to come, honor the fallen, and represent what happens to our friends and neighbors when this (COVID-19) spreads," Heaven Chamberlain, co-founder of Each Pair Iowa, said in a press release announcing the event.

The empty shoes will be displayed on the sidewalks adjacent to the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office Monday from 2-7 PM. According to Chamberlain, one pair of shoes will be on display for every Iowan whose life has been claimed by COVID-19.

According to the press release, Sheriff Tony Thompson invited Each Pair Iowa to bring its mobile display to Waterloo.

The public is invited to attend the event and donate shoes to help us the cause. Visitors should wear a mask. Event organizers will also be providing FREE reusable cloth masks, while supplies last.

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