Shoes Handed out to the Needy in Atlanta

This week, Soles4Souls and New York-based Kids In Distressed Situations gave away 65,000 pairs of Soles4Souls-branded flip-flop shoes to needy children and adults in Atlanta.

Dozens of children and adults traveled to the Southside offices of Caring for Others, a local homeless prevention organization, to pick their new kicks. Caring for Others, a K.I.D.S. Georgia partner, also passed out new gym shoes to adults.

Embreya Thomas, 14, of Atlanta plans to sport her blue flip-flops during an upcoming swimming outing.

"I like them because I can wear them to the park, school and a lot of stuff," she said. "They are cute. I think it's good people are getting these shoes. Some people don't have what other people have."

Quinton Carter, 45, was among those getting new sneakers.

"I like them," said Carter, who lives in Atlanta's West End neighborhood. "They are really very nice."

Shoes that weren't doled out Wednesday will be distributed through Caring for Others to other metro Atlanta charities and social services organizations.

Atlanta is one of five U.S. cities included in the Soles4Souls National Barefoot Week campaign to distribute more than 325,000 pairs of flip-flops. Previous stops were Chicago and Miami. The campaign will hit New Orleans and Flagstaff, Ariz., today near the Hopi and Navajo Indian reservations.