Soles4Souls Partner Eneslow, Celebrates 100 Years of Business

For 100 years New Yorkers have limped into Eneslow seeking solace for their aching hard-to-fit feet only to walk out with audible sighs of relief; having finally found an end to their suffering soles.

Established in 1909 by Edward and Nellie Stone Low as a medical shoe and orthotics establishment on Avenue A, the small family-owned business evolved into Eneslow, The Foot Comfort Center, a destination footwear emporium serving the pavement-pounding needs of New Yorkers with one of the world 's largest inventories of comfortable footwear.

Today, Robert S. Schwartz, a Board Certified Pedorthist and fourth-generation footwear maven, is president and CEO of Eneslow Pedorthic Enterprises, Inc. He oversees Eneslow 's three retail locations which indicates that in spite of the economic downturn, the demand for Eneslow 's products and services is still going strong.

“New York is a walking city and there 's no getting around with tired, painful feet, ” said Schwartz. “We 've built a large and loyal base of customers who, by their own admission, could not walk in comfort without us. It gives me and my staff great satisfaction to provide solutions that keep down-trodden feet trotting.”

A grand opening event to celebrate a new 2,000-square-foot location at Second Avenue and 79th Street will take place on Wednesday, June 10. Celebrating in Style Eneslow will mark its centennial with a private party at its flagship store on Thursday, June 11, for its customers, vendors, medical professionals and city officials.

As a good corporate citizen, Eneslow supports several charities including Soles4Souls which collects gently worn and new shoes for those in need in New York and around the world. A collection box is at every Eneslow location and the Soles4Souls mobile collection van will be parked in front of the Eneslow flagship store all day on June 11.

Eneslow 's on-site factory enables customers to have their shoes repaired, modified, or custom made. For more information, visit www.eneslow.com or call 212-477-2300 or 800-ENESLOW.

NBA All-Star Supports Soles4Souls

Antawn Jamison, a 2-time NBA All-Star for the Washington Wizards is endorsing Soles4Souls.

“I applaud Soles4Souls for being so dedicated to helping provide shoes to everyone they encounter who needs them," stated Antawn. "We need more organizations like them who understand the true nature of giving while expecting nothing in return. They are making a difference in the world, one pair of shoes at a time,” he said.

Antawn is very involved in the community, especially with youth organizations. Antawn and national non-profit KaBOOM! have announced a partnership to encourage and promote play among children across the country. He also started “Antawn’s Army,” a charity ticket program in which he purchases tickets for numerous youth and student organizations every month.

For more information on Antawn, visit http://www.antawnjamison.com/.

Celebrity Endorsement: Lance Bass

Lance Bass, the former NSYNC star and Dancing with the Stars contestant, has endorsed Soles4Souls.

"I was amazed when I heard Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in their closets. I am proud to support Soles4Souls as they use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone's life," he said.

To learn more about Lance, visit www.lancebass.com.

Join Kellie Pickler in Support of Barefoot Week

Former American Idol star Kellie Pickler is asking for your support at the 2009 Barefoot Week, held during the first week of June.

“I am thrilled to support Soles4Souls and the 2009 Barefoot Week in order to help spread their mission to "change the world one pair at a time”. Their commitment is inspiring and I hope that thousands of people join me in support of the fantastic work they are doing across America,” said Kellie.

Kellie has won three Country Music Television Awards for her single 'I Wonder' and two awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. To learn more about Kellie and her music, visit http://www.kelliepickler.com/.

To learn more about Barefoot Week and how you can participate, click here.

Brittany Snow for Barefoot Week

Television and movie star Brittany Snow supports Soles4Souls and is asking people to participate during Barefoot Week.

"Whether it's a child struggling to go to school in Kenya, or an American who needs a pair of work boots, Soles4Souls is there to answer the simple requests of millions of people," stated Brittany. "We hope you will participate in Barefoot Week and help change the world, one pair at a time."


Brittany has starred in movies such as Hairspray, Prom Night and Finding Amanda, as well as starring in a number of television shows.

Zach Braff Donates Shoes to Soles4Souls

Not to be outdone by his 'Scrubs' co-star Donald Faision, Zach Braff is supporting Soles4Souls by donating a pair of signed shoes. Zach stars on the NBC comedy 'Scrubs' with fellow Soles4Souls supporter Donald Faison.

Zach has his own blog that features his unique thoughts, updates and video posts. You can read it here.

'Scrubs' Star Endorses Soles4Souls

Donald Faision, one of the stars from the TV show Scrubs, is publicly supporting Soles4Souls.

“It is easy to support charities like Soles4Souls that helps children of all cultures," said Faison. "Monies raised pay for expensive shipping and even a small donation of $5 for new shoes will help those children who are battling life’s problems and need a positive step up,” he said.

Celebrity Endorsement: Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson has acted in several movie and television shows, ventured into pop and country singing (achieving three gold and two multi-platinum RIAA-certified albums and seven Billboard Top 40 hits) and designs and markets a line of handbags, shoes and boots. Now Simpson is publicly supporting Soles4Souls.

"It's an honor to donate shoes to help Soles4Souls as they do incredible things for the less fortunate people in this world. I encourage everyone to lend support," said Simpson in a statement.

For more news, information and tour dates, visit http://www.jessicasimpson.com/.

Riddick Bowe Endorses Soles4Souls

Riddick Bowe, the former 2-Time Heavy Weight Boxing World Champion, is a proud supporter of Soles4Souls.

“Soles4Souls is an amazing organization doing amazing things to help people," said Riddick. "I don't know of any other organization that focuses on making sure people living in poverty have a decent pair of shoes on their feet. I'm definitely a proud supporter!”

Riddick was at the U.S. Capitol in April when thirty thousand pairs of shoes were laid out around the reflecting pool to draw attention to the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan. Each pair of shoes represented 100 lives lost.

Golf Legends Donate Shoes

Golf legends Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson signed and donated a pair of their golf shoes to be auctioned off for Soles4Souls.

Soles4Souls in The Seattle Times

Soles4Souls was mentioned in a recent Seattle Times article about walking toward well-being. Walking is the most popular exercise in America. It's easy, it's cheap and it's good for you.

In the article, Richard Seven says to 'give those old walking shoes a higher purpose by donating them to Soles4Souls, a charity that gives them to people in need across the world, including those who suffered from natural disasters.'

The article also features our fantastic partner Foot Solutions, a Bellevue specialty shoe company. Foot Solutions, which hosts annual shoe drives for Soles4Souls, conducts a class it calls Balance Walking that provides relief to joints, improves posture, burns calories and challenges core muscles.

"Help Us Collect Shoes" Drive

A pair of Stevenson High School students in Lincolnshire, IL are finding that their classmates and local residents have plenty of gym shoes to give away.

Sophomores McKinley Imus and Carlee Berland's were required to do a service project for their English class. They chose to collect athletic shoes, used but still usable, for Soles4Souls.

Their "Help Us Collect Shoes" drive begins this week, with the goal of collecting both 100 pairs of shoes and enough donated money to buy 100 more, all by May 1.

"At first, we were kind of scared, because we couldn't think of steps to get everybody in our community to help us," Berland said April 9. "But everything is kind of working out right now."

The pair have a shoe collection box in SHS' activities office and hoping to place another in Lincolnshire Village Hall.

A gym shoe drive came naturally, Berland said, as both are volleyball and basketball players. The idea evolved to include footwear of all kind.

"We both play sports, so we thought that doing a gym shoe drive would be really good," she said," but then we opened it up to any kind of shoe. It would be better for everybody if there were all kinds of shoes."

The Help Us Collect Shoes effort will also include a bake sale in SHS' Wood Commons sometime this week and a Facebook group of the same name, which has already attracted 254 members. Once the donation drive is complete, they plan to send the shoes to Soles4Souls in May.

Titan Hands Out Hundreds Of Free Pairs Of Shoes

Soles4Souls along with Shoe Carnival donated more than a thousand pair of clogs to the Nashville Rescue Mission.

Tennessee Titan All-Pro Safety Chris Hope went to the mission to help pass out free clogs to those less fortunate.

Hope has been the National Spokesman for Soles4Souls for three years, and he said giving away free shoes gave him a sense of purpose far past football.

"I'm here in Nashville, but I'm blessing people across the country by passing our shoes, but Soles4Souls has been doing it for many years and they've blessed many people and I'm glad to be a part of it," said Hope.

The safety donates $100 per tackle to Soles4Souls, the Nashville charity that gives away shoes to those in need. Hope has donated almost $30,000 to the organization himself.

"Anytime I'm donating money, that means I'm playing good so it's a blessing," said Hope.
A blessing to people like 29-year-old Adam Perkins, who's overcoming a drug addiction and has high praise for the Titan that gives his time to Soles4Souls.

"I'd like to say to Chris - thank you very much and God Bless you brother," said Perkins.

Soles4Souls at the HEP

Here is personal testimony from Zachary White, a housing manager for the Homeless Emergency Project (HEP). Zachary was at the footwear handout on May 6th in Clearwater, FL.


One older male living at our facility suffers from a degenerative disability affecting his back permanently. He was able to receive a pair of comfortable shoes providing him support when walking that he was not able to afford on his own.

A single mother coming from an outside agency explained she’s been having car troubles but acknowledged at the same time her children were badly in need of new shoes. This mother was able to take three pairs of shoes for her children and focus on getting her car fixed. She was ecstatic.

A gentleman seeking employment in this tough economy felt encouraged by his ability to look presentable with a nice pair of dress shoes for his interviews.

A client of ours suffering from multiple sclerosis was given a pair of low cut ankle boots to encourage a more steady gate and ankle support.

The overall attitude of the crowd of people we served this day was one of sincere appreciation and respect for the kindness that was displayed by your Soles4Souls program.

Thanks again,
Zachary White

Gladeville UMC to Gather Shoes

On June 7, Gladeville United Methodist Church in Gladeville, TN and hundreds of other congregations across the country are participating in Barefoot Sunday. Participants leave their shoes on the altar to be donated to the poor. Barefoot Sunday allows people to remove their shoes and walk out barefoot.

"Churches have always been incredibly responsive to our programs," said Wayne Elsey, founder and chief executive officer of Soles4Souls.

The efforts of Gladeville United Methodist Church and participating congregations will go directly toward helping put shoes on the feet of barefoot children. Gladeville Church will have a time during each morning service for new and gently worn shoes to be left at the altar. Gladeville has a contemporary service at 8:15 a.m. and a traditional service at 10:30 a.m.


Prior to Barefoot Sunday, shoes will be collected during regular business hours at the Gladeville office of Wilson Bank & Trust and Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the church office. Gladeville United Methodist Church is located at 8770 Stewarts Ferry Pike in Gladeville.

Girl Scouts Collect 500 Pair

The Junior Girl Scout Troop 1697 from Orange, CA collected 500 pairs of shoes for Sole4Souls. The girls delivered 392 pairs of the gently used shoes to New Balance in the South Coast Plaza where they will be shipped to the Soles4Souls warehouse in Las Vegas for distribution.

The shoe drive was completed with the help & support of their troop families as well as that of the Nohl Canyon Elementary School families and Girl Scout Service Unit 2. The Village at Orange Mall World Market also helped by donating the packing boxes for all the shoes.

It has been a busy and productive year for the Girls from Troop 1697. They have provided new tooth brushes for the needy in South East Asia, donated a complete Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner for a family of 6 and participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Great job girls!

Shoes Given to the Needy in San Rafael

For a person living on the street, sleeping in a doorway or camping in open space, one of the most critical things is to have healthy feet. A homeless person spends a large part of the time walking around, and discomfort or sore feet can inhibit that person from functioning. A good pair of shoes can mean the difference between feeling able to move around and spending the day in discomfort or pain; a difference that allows them to work or look for work and get around to the services they need.

Here are a couple of stories from men who recently received donated shoes from Soles4Souls in San Rafael, CA.

Stephen (above) is full of energy and highly motivated to change his circumstances. He camps out on the hill overlooking town, and is out every day looking for work. Because his income is limited, he tends to walk everywhere. Stephen was wearing shoes with holes in the soles. He was thrilled to get out of his very old dress shoes and into something new. The shoes we provided Stephen were comfortable walking shoes.

Julio (above) works in the construction trade, yet work is scarce right now and he can’t afford to keep up rent on a room. He lives outside in the industrial area of town and comes down every morning looking for work from independent contractors. His shoes were old and worn and smelled terrible. He was having a hard time getting around in them. A new pair of shoes and a few pairs of socks put this man in a position to keep working.

Boy Scouts Helping with Drive

Last week we blogged about Aldersgate United Methodist Church collecting shoes for Soles4Souls. With the help of some outstanding boy scouts, the shoe drive is moving along well. Here is an update printed in the Saturday edition of the Montgomery Advertiser:

Aldersgate United Methodist Church was a collection point for shoes today as Boy Scouts and their leaders took part in the “Soles4Souls” national program.

Most shoes were usable and some appeared to be new as church members and scouts took turns accepting them from vehicles that pulled into the church parking lot.

As the volunteers waited for donations, Scout adviser Jim Hinkle occasionally checked on shoes that had been deposited in a large room at the church.

“We’ve been putting them in here the past couple of days and will make sure they get to the right place for distribution,” said Hinkle.

Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based organization, has distributed more than 4 million pairs of shoes to people in more than 70 counties.

The collection program is being held until May 17, and the Aldersgate scouts elected to get as many as they could today.

The scouts, who are members of the Aldersgate-sponsored Troop 307, took turns during the day holding up a sign along Vaughn Road, encouraging motorists to bring shoes to the church.
Khristen Carlson, who coordinated the shoe collection project, said they will be delivered to the Soles4Souls main warehouse in the east Alabama community of Roanoke.

“Having a pair of shoes is something that most of us take for granted,” she said. “Soles4Souls donates a pair of shoes to someone in need every 17 seconds.”

One of those who drove to Aldersgate on this morning was William Wood, who attends Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church.

“This is a great program, and I’m happy to do what I can to see that needy people get some shoes,” said Wood, who brought more than a dozen pairs to the church.

He said he and his wife often donate shoes and clothes to charitable organizations but decided to give the Aldersgate scouts their shoes this time.

High School Student Collecting Shoes for Needy

Molly McQuade, a sophomore from Joel Barlow High School in Redding, PA wants to take advantage of spring cleaning efforts by Redding and Easton residents.

For the next week, she is collecting shoes for Soles4Souls. Molly hopes while people are going through their closets as part of spring cleaning, they will consider helping others and donating shoes.

She first heard about the organization through her father, Michael, who works at ESPN. A story on the network featured a basketball team that traveled to Third World countries contributing shoes.

“I thought this would be a unique way to help those in need,” Molly said. “It’s not what you think of as an everyday charity, but shoes are really needed.”

“Plus, everyone can contribute,” she added.

Shoe donation boxes are set up for the next week at Joel Barlow High School, John Read Middle School, Redding Elementary School, Helen Keller Middle School, Samuel Staples Elementary School, the Redding Community Center on Lonetown Road and the Easton Community Center.

BRIEF Aldersgate UMC collecting shoes

Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Montgomery, AL at 6610 Vaughn Road will be collecting new or slightly worn shoes to aid those in need worldwide. Shoes collected will be donated to Soles4Souls, where they will be cleaned and shipped to areas of need.

Collection bins are available throughout the church, and a community wide drop-off event is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the church's front parking lot.

Members of the Boy Scout Troop 307, sponsored by the Aldersgate United Methodist Men, will be on hand to collect donations.

Khristen Carlson, coordinator of the shoe drive, said the donated shoes will be banded together in pairs and then delivered to the Soles4Souls primary warehouse facility in Roanoke, VA.

"Having a pair of shoes to wear is something that most of us take for granted," Carlson said in a statement. "Soles4Souls donates a pair of shoes to someone in need every 17 seconds. Our mission at Aldersgate is 'To know Jesus and to make Him known.' This is one way in which we can show the love of Christ to those in need."

The shoe drive will continue through May 17.  

Shoes Distributed to Kids in India

Soles4Souls recently donated shoes to Peace Builders, a non-profit that ships aid to children in war-torn and disaster-stricken countries. Peace Builders distributed the kids athletic shoes to orphans in India.

Diane Eskenazi, the Director and founder of Peace Builders, said many of the children had never experienced lace up shoes. Adults were enlisted to do the unlacing and lacing and most children needed to have the function and position of the tongue demonstrated for them, she said. Soon the same boys would put these newly acquired skills to use as they eagerly and generously helped the younger children.

"All of the children couldn't wait to put their shoes to the test," said Eskenzi. "They were running, jumping, dancing or just standing and admiring their newly shod feet!”

learning to tie shoes

DIANI Sole Shakedown

After a hugely successful turnout last year, the team at DIANI is gearing up for its third annual Soles4Souls event. DIANI, located in Santa Barbara, CA has stepped up in a big way in years past, collecting more than 1,000 pairs of gently worn men’s, women’s, and children’s flat-soled shoes.

Drop yours by the shop anytime between now and the big soirée, which will go down on Thursday, May 21, from 6-10 p.m., with hosts Carolyn Murphy and Tracy and Noah Wyle, and which will feature wine and hors d’oeuvres by Demetria Estate.

DIANI is located on 1324 State Street, Suite H. For more information, visit http://www.dianiboutique.com.

Shoe Sellers Give to Shelters

Executives of the National Shoe Retailers Association decided to include a community service event during their annual conference at St. Pete Beach. Partnering with Soles4Souls, the group is working to donate more than 1,500 pairs of shoes to needy residents at the Pinellas Hope transitional camp today and other shelters across the county.

The group first contacted Soles4Souls six months ago to see if they would be interested in assisting with the project.

"They didn't think it would be appropriate to do all the things they normally do," said Chris Carmichael, who works for Soles4Souls and was on hand to help with the event. "They wanted to all come out for a day of service."

The conference, at the Don CeSar Beach Resort, will feature several executives from major shoe retailers across the country, including Nike, Timberland and Kenneth Cole.

Carmichael partnered with Rhonda Abbott, manager of social services planning for the city of St. Petersburg, who identified Pinellas Hope and two other shelters that could benefit from leftover shoes. All the shoes delivered will be new. People who are unable to find shoes in their size will receive a voucher for a pair to be shipped to the agency or shelter where they receive services.

"I was glad that we were chosen, because they travel all over the world doing this," Abbott said. She added that the donation was coming at a time when charitable contributions are low because of the weakening economy and more families are needy.