My name is Abby Laing, and I am this year’s Miss North Ogden. The platform I have chosen is centered around organ donation, entitled “Live Twice, Check Yes to Organ Donation.” It is a topic that is very near and dear to my heart because it is a big part of my life. Two years ago, my dad volunteered to be a living kidney donor to his nephew, an act that saved his nephew’s life. Watching this amazing event happen, and to people I love dearly, rocked my world! I want the amazing people in our community to understand how many lives can be saved by just checking yes to organ donation. I encourage you to head over to yesutah.org to learn more and to register as a donor. Heroes aren’t born, they’re registered!

As I prepare to compete for Miss Utah this June, I have been asked to collect 1,000 pairs of new and used shoes to send to Burkina Faso, Africa, the third poorest country in the world. The condition of the shoes does not matter, new, used, mismatched, unwearable, you name it, we’ll take it! The shoes in wearable condition will be given to people or sold; the unwearable shoes will be recycled for money. The money will then help build fresh water wells in Burkina Faso! You can find donation boxes at Lee’s Marketplace, Pleasant View City Office Building, and North Ogden City Office Building. I will be collecting shoes until March, so keep them coming! It only takes a second to change someone’s life, and wouldn’t you know it, that pair of old shoes in your garage will change someone’s life!

Follow my adventures this year!

Check out our Facebook page,

Instagram account @missnorthogden.ut, or missnorthogden.com to learn more about

the Miss North Ogden Scholarship Program.

Donate shoes to help build fresh water wells in Africa.

Donation boxes are at Lees, Pleasant View City Office building, and North Ogden City Office Building. Donations accepted until March!