Fiona Ryder (left) and Alexander Diaz address Excel Club members on the Soles4Souls program. Eighty-five members of the Clinton High School Excel Club met with Alexander Diaz and Fiona Ryder to kick-off the Soles4Souls shoe collection project.
Soles4Souls facilitates the donation of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide, according to the organization's website: http://www.soles4souls.com/.
Shoe companies, retailers and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Adviser Rose Solar said she brought the idea of Soles4Souls to the students. "We felt this was a worthwhile endeavor," she said, adding that everyone could get involved. "It would truly be helping others in need." The high school already has a box full of shoes, and ready to collect more. "The teachers have said they are cleaning out their closets," Solar said.
The idea behind gifts of shoes is nothing new to the Soles4Souls team, as it coordinated relief efforts for the Asian Tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, netting over one million pairs donated for these disasters. The team originally operated as http://www.katrinashoes.org/ with several churches partnering in the collection and distribution of footwear. Now, the organization works in 45 states and 61 countries around the world.
Diaz challenged the students and the Clinton community to collect 5,000 pairs of shoes to help people all over the world in need, in partnership with the nationwide group. Shoes can be dropped off at Clinton High School, Clinton Middle School and Clinton Elementary School through March 2010.
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