String of Shoes aims at Guinness record

While most people were out tipping glasses to the New Year Wednesday, volunteers were tying shoelaces to break a Guinness World Record at Opry Mills in Nashville, TN.

The volunteers were trying to collect shoes for Soles4Souls to help those in need and break the record for the longest chain of shoes at the same time.

The current record holder is the National Geographic Kids Magazine with 10,512 shoes measuring 8,700 feet. That chain of shoes was tied up in July.

It is estimated that there will be 26,000 shoes to span the mall twice, which is about a mile inside. This is in addition to a tower or massive barrel of shoes holding about 30,000 pair near the mall's second entrance.

"It's overwhelming that something like this is going to impact so many people," said Killian Deats, 18.

Deats, who is striving for Eagle Scout status, got involved in collecting the shoes through his father who works with Soles4Souls.

Dragging mostly tennis shoes tied lace-to-lace out of four-foot tall boxes, Deats and several friends in one group lined the shoes up on the floor throughout the mall. Most of the stores were closed New Year's Eve as the crew struggled to line the shoes up the length of the mall.

Curious visitors couldn't resist watching the spectacle of footwear.

In town for the Music City Bowl, Linda Georganas, 62, of Hamilton, Va., said she thought the shoe charity's record-breaking event was a great idea. Dennis and Betty Brown of Sheffield, Ala., were impressed at how nice the shoes were.

"I think it's fantastic," Dennis Brown said. "I like what they are doing with them afterwards."

Soles4Souls to Launch Holiday Charity Shoe Drive

Soles4Souls announced plans to partner with Opry Mills, a Nashville mall, to host a holiday shoe drive that will create the "World's Largest Tower of Shoes."

The drive will begin Nov. 5 and culminate on New Year's Eve. Throughout the holidays, shoppers can check the progress of the drive via clear panels installed in the Tower's sides. The idea for the project was inspired by a letter Soles4Souls received earlier this year from a young boy, Joseph Wells, who held his own shoe drive last year.

Both Soles4Souls and Opry Mills are asking locals and visitors to come to the mall during the holidays to help those in need around the world. Donors can contribute a pair of new or gently worn shoes, and in turn receive a discount incentive on new merchandise at participating stores. Each store will collect the shoes and each week they will be added to the tower.

In addition, merchants will offer the Soles4Souls "2-6-10: It's Good for the Sole" program. It offers a $2 cash donation for one pair of new shoes; $6 will purchase three pairs of new shoes; and a $10 donation will provide five pairs for those in need.

"This is a creative and effective way for us to spread the message of our organization," said Soles4Souls founder Wayne Elsey. "The amount of support we've received from local businesses and individuals has been incredible, and with their help, we are looking forward to breaking the world record for the most shoes in a single event."