Ladies' Home Journal Employees Give a Lift to Soles4Souls

On August 27, LHJ staff members were out in force in front of New York's Madison Square Garden to collect shoes from the nearly 20,000 attending the Kellie Pickler/Taylor Swift concert. Result was the pictured overflow, and they were coupled with 500-plus shoes donated by LHJ parent Meredith Corp.'s New York employees--the same group that collected 1,600 pounds of clothing for a Family Circle campaign with Goodwill Industries (min, August 24, 2009).

Shoes beneficiary is Nashville-based Soles4Souls, a favorite cause for American Idol alumna Pickler. It began in the aftermath of the December 4 tsunami in Southeast Asia that killed an estimated 250,000 and left many more homeless.

Kellie on the Today Show Talking About Soles4Souls

Kellie Pickler appeared on the Today Show last Wednesday morning. The country star talked about her new single, her upcoming USO Tour and her involvement with the Nashville-based Soles4Souls shoe charity. Pickler also discussed her Fearless Tour 2009 with friend Taylor Swift (their concert was sold out last Thursday at New York’s Madison Square Garden).

Continuing her support of Soles4Souls, Kellie teamed with Ladies’ Home Journal magazine to collect new and gently worn shoes on Thursday before the show. The drop point for the shoes was located at the entrance to the Garden and was open from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Nashville-based Soles4Souls collects and distributes free footwear (both new and 'gently worn') to people in need around the world. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 5 million pairs -- currently one pair every 13 seconds -- to people in 125 countries, including Honduras, Romania, Thailand, The Sudan and the United States.

In addition to donations from the footwear industry, Soles4Souls has received shoes and support from Scarlett Johansson, Zach Braff, Billy Joel, Jessica Simpson, Donald Faison, Stevie Nicks and many other celebrities, professional athletes and musicians.

The organization was created by former footwear executive Wayne Elsey, who stepped down from his position to run the charity on a daily basis. He was moved to action during the Asian Tsunami when he watched a news report that focused on a single shoe on the beach. He rallied the footwear industry to donate 250,000 pairs of shoes to the areas affected. When Hurricane Katrina roared ashore in September 2005, Wayne and his newly formed charity donated over 1 Million pairs of shoes to the victims in the Gulf Region. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

See Kellie Pickler Live, Help The Less Fortunate Get Free Shoes

Add Kellie Pickler's name to the list of stars who do more good than evil with their fame. At her Madison Square Garden Show with Taylor Swift, she's encouraging fans to bring new and gently-worn shoes to help support her partnership of Soles4Souls, an organization dedicated to distributing donated footwear to people all over the world. (Ladies Home Journal is also teaming with Pickler to assist in the footwear drive.)

Says Pickler of the org, "I love shoes but they are more than just a fashion statement, they are a necessity and not everyone has access to them because of financial reasons or natural disaster. Whatever the situation, Soles4Souls is there to help and I'm glad to lend my support. Thanks to the wonderful people from Ladies' Home Journal who are volunteering their time to come out and collect the shoes that people are giving." So far, Soles4Souls has gifted more than five million pairs to people in 125 countries. So donate a pair before you kick up your heels at Pickler's concert, and add your own name to the official do-gooder list.

Shoe-be, shoe-be, do: Country starlet Kellie Pickler wants your shoes, New York City

When country-newcomer Kellie Pickler sang her way to the top of the charts with “Red High Heels,” a tune about kicking her no-good man to the curb and then donning her favorite shoes for a night out on the town, the feel-good sentiment about shoes was for real.

That is, the former American Idol contestant-turned-country starlet really digs shoes, and that said, she wants everyone to have at least one good pair.

Growing up, Pickler's socio-economic status was modest at best, she has shared, and while these days she can afford to shoe shop--one of her favorite pastimes, by the way--at high-end retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, she understands what it's like to go without life's basics, including decent footwear.

With that, Kellie will continue her support of Soles4Souls on Thursday, Aug. 27, by joining with Ladies’ Home Journal to collect new and gently worn shoes before her show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The drop point for the shoes will be located at entrance to the Garden and will be open 5–9 p.m.

“I love shoes, but they are more than just a fashion statement," Pickler says, "they are a necessity and not everyone has access to them because of financial reasons or natural disaster."

As for her work on behalf of the Nashville-based Soles4Souls, which collects and distributes free footwear to people in need around the world, "Whatever the situation, Soles4Souls is there to help and I’m glad to lend my support," she adds. "Thanks to the wonderful people from Ladies’ Home Journal who are volunteering their time to come out and collect the shoes that people are giving.”

Pickler's upcoming performance in the Big Apple finds her joining her gal pal, Taylor Swift, on the latter's Fearless Tour for a sold-out show at the Garden. The pair wrote Pickler’s last single, “Best Days Of Your Life,” which has sold more than 700,000 digital downloads and peaked inside the top 10 on the country charts.

Kellie Pickler and Ladies' Home Journal Massive Shoe Collection for Soles4Souls

Kellie Pickler’s affinity for shoes is well documented. Her 2006 debut single kicked a no-account-ex-boyfriend to the curb in “Red High Heels,” and her current, self titled album closes with “Going Out In Style,” which expresses her desire for her final resting place...having her ashes spread in shoe department of Saks Fifth Avenue. But Pickler, whose modest upbringing allowed for little more than the basics, understands the realities of living without.


With that, Kellie continues her support of Soles4Souls and will team with Ladies’ Home Journal the “Look Good. Do Good. Feel Great” magazine, to collect new and gently worn shoes on Thursday, August 27 before her show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The drop point for the shoes will be located at entrance to the Garden and will be open from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

On Soles4Souls Pickler said, “I love shoes but they are more than just a fashion statement, they are a necessity and not everyone has access to them because of financial reasons or natural disaster. Whatever the situation, Soles4Souls is there to help and I’m glad to lend my support. Thanks to the wonderful people from Ladies’ Home Journal who are volunteering their time to come out and collect the shoes that people are giving.”

Pickler joins her friend Taylor Swift on the Fearless Tour 2009 for the sold out show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on August 27. Pickler and Swift wrote Pickler’s last single, “Best Days Of Your Life,” which has sold more than 700,000 digital downloads and peaked inside the Top 10.

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.