Shoe drive puts kick into WCC rivalries

[from the GONZAGA BULLETIN]

Gonzaga faces tough competition with its West Coast Conference rivals this year - off the basketball court. The eight schools are competing against each other in the WCC's first annual service contest to win a pre-game party at the conference tournament in Las Vegas.

Through Feb. 19, anyone can donate a pair of shoes to support charity and help send Gonzaga students to celebrate before the first men's tournament game.

Kennel Club Co-President Kepa Zugazaga is excited about the opportunity.

"We always donate to charities like Relay for Life and Face AIDS, but this will definitely be a way for people to see us helping out. They don't see the donations."

The idea blossomed last fall when students from all WCC schools met in October at the annual Student Athlete Advisory Committee conference and voted to begin a year-long service campaign, said Mike Roden, director of academic support services at Gonzaga.
WCC staff and the SAAC voted unanimously on Soles4Souls, a charity that gives shoes to people in need.

The charity was founded in 2004 during relief efforts to rebuild Southeast Asia from tsunami damages. It houses regional headquarters in Las Vegas and has worked with Orleans Arena in the past, so it was a great fit, said Sarah Arens, WCC's Director of Student Services.

Arens said she is impressed that the students took the initiative.

"The idea really sparked with the student athletes," she said. "It was a perfect match - the students really wanted to do something, and the conference athletic directors had a connection with the city."

Lauren Rochholz said the charity is great because they'll take almost anything.

"Used shoes go internationally, decent ones stay in the States, and really cruddy shoes are recycled to make track or court surfaces," she said. Rochholz is the president of the SAAC at Gonzaga.

All types of donations are welcome, Arens said. She said most of the lightly worn shoes will be donated to at-risk youth in Las Vegas.

The charity is not only a great fit for the location, but also will accomplish a seemingly impossible goal: bringing the eight WCC schools together.

"We spend too much time heckling each other, so it's nice to work together," Zugazaga said.

"It turned into the perfect project," Arens said. "It fits right in with athletics because of the shoes, especially athletic shoes. Lots of students can easily donate an old pair."

In Spokane, donation containers can be found across campus and town. On campus, shoes can be donated in Crosby, Jepson, Rudolf Fitness center, and most dorms. The Runner's Soul and Spokane Racquet Club also have containers.

Gonzaga SAAC members have been working closely with GSBA, the Bulldog Club, and media in Spokane to spread the message, Roden said.

"Friends and family can donate, too. We want this to be a success," he said.

Zugazaga said the contest will be a good opportunity to involve all Kennel Club members and spread the word about WCC involvement.

"We're trying to make it as easy as possible for the students," he said.

Donations can also be made in the McCarthey Athletic Center on February 19th. The contest culminates at the men's basketball game that evening.

The winning school will be recognized at halftime of the women's championship game in Vegas, Arens said. The conference decided on an unofficial goal of 500 pairs of shoes per school, but several schools have already met the number, she said.

As of Tuesday, Pepperdine, Gonzaga, and Loyola Marymount University had the most donations.

The conference will hold a student fan party for the winning team before their respective game at the tournament, Arens said.

"What's great about the contest is that it doesn't just benefit student athletes," Rochholz said. Although the SAAC voted on the contest, the party will be open to the first 200 students of the winning school.

Free pizza will be provided during the pre-game party, and the school's fans will have early access to the Arena.

"There's been a discussion of giveaways, but that hasn't been confirmed," Arens said. "It's our first year, and I've been really impressed with the participation. We can't wait to see everyone in Vegas."

"Stan's Fit For Your Feet" Collecting Shoes in Milwaukee Until Feb 28!

Stan's Fit For Your Feet has long been a tremendous supporter of our cause. We strongly recommend anyone living in the Milwaukee area to visit their stores and buy some new footwear from the experts at Stan's. If you bring in a pair of gently worn shoes (through Feb 28), you will receive $10 off a new pair of shoes.

Jim Sadjak, President of the shoe company, has been interviewed a number of times on local television (see below), and he's a perfect representative of our programs. In the three years Stan's has worked with us, they have collected more than 10,000 pairs of gently worn shoes that we send to needy people around the world. To watch a news report of their work. visit this website.

People can donate shoes from Feb. 1-28 at collection bins at these locations:
• 17155 West Bluemound Road, Brookfield
• 505 West Silver Spring Drive, Glendale
• 7405 West Layton Avenue, Greenfield

Those locations are open:
• Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
• Saturday 9:30-a.m.-5:30 p.m.
• Sunday 12:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Whitinsville (MA) Teenagers Step Up to Help Soles4Souls

[from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette]

Students send shoes where they’re needed
WHITINSVILLE — Two Northbridge High School seniors, Joseph Susienka and Casey Petersen, have teamed up with Soles4Souls, an international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in desperate need. They ran a shoe drive in the Northbridge Public School system to raise awareness and collect shoes for Tennessee-based Soles4Souls. Between the school district’s four schools during a two-month campaign, 1,079 pairs of shoes were collected.


“Most of us have lots of shoes we no longer wear,” said Casey in a news release. “According to one estimate, more than one billion pair of shoes lie idle in American closets from coast to coast. In spite of that, there are millions of people both in the United States and around the world in desperate need of footwear.”

The young men completed the campaign as their senior year DECA public relations project. DECA is the only national student organization operating through the nation’s schools to attract young people to careers in marketing, management and entrepreneurship. The two will be presenting their project to a panel of judges drawn from business, education and government at the Massachusetts state competition, which occurs March 5-7 in Boston. The Northbridge High School chapter adviser is faculty member Susan Palmer-Howes.

Adam Gregory, Country Music Star, Hands Out Shoes at the Kansas City Rescue Mission

Adam Gregory, one of country's rising music stars, helped distribute shoes to homeless men in Kansas City during his current tour. This is the first stop in his nationwide tour that features Soles4Souls as his charitable partner.

Watch one of Adam's music videos here!

~~~
Read this description of the event from NBC Action News, Kansas City:

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Rescue Mission’s chapel looked like a shoe store on Wednesday, as 90 men tried on brand new shoes donated by Soles4Souls, a Nashville nonprofit.

Tattered sandals, worn sneakers and dirty socks were discarded as young and old tried on brand-new Redwing, Irish Setter and other high-quality boots and shoes. Country music singer Adam Gregory helped distribute the shoes in the first stop in his nationwide charity tour.

“This is the first pair of shoes I’ve had that actually fit me,” said a man who wears a size 6-and-a-half shoe.

Members of Gregory’s band, along with Mission volunteers and staff also passed out new white socks to go with the shoes. Shelter staff say the new shoes will give many of the homeless the tools they need to find jobs.

~~~

"We are very excited about this campaign between Soles4Souls and rising music star Adam Gregory," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "Even though he's only 23 years old, he is an amazing talent and also demonstrates his deep commitment to charitable causes and giving back to his fans. We are extremely proud to count him as a friend."

The ten-week tour includes dates in 25 different cities, beginning Jan. 19 and running through March 31, 2009. Gregory will partner with a radio station in each market to provide a unique concert event and singles mixer that targets local listeners.

Upon entry to the event, fans will be provided an opportunity to donate a new or gently worn pair of shoes or make a donation to the Soles4Souls organization. Individuals will then receive a numbered flip-flop and attempt to locate their "sole" mate with the other matching shoe. The evening concludes with a grand prize giveaway and full band performance by Gregory. Proceeds from each night's event will be donated to Soles4Souls.

Arlington (OH) Shoe Store Helping Needy Around the World

[from the COLUMBUS DISPATCH]

Arlington shoe store collecting soles for the needy around world

An Upper Arlington store is collecting shoes for a charity that will distribute them to needy people around the world.

Brown Shoes, 2108 Tremont Center, will offer a $10 discount through Feb. 28 to customers who bring in "gently worn" shoes for Soles4Souls, a nonprofit group based in Nashville, Tenn. The organization has given more than 4 million pairs of shoes to people in 70 countries.

Soles4Souls started after the tsunami in southern Asia in 2004, when founder Wayne Elsey rallied shoe executives to send a quarter-million shoes to affected countries. The charity collects new and used shoes.

"Our thought is that this could help the economy by driving consumers in to buy new shoes and at the same time helping people in need," said Jeff Brown, owner of Brown Shoes.

DUTREY'S, a Cumberland County (PA) Store is Hosting International Shoe Drive

Dutrey’s Shoes of Carlisle is hosting a shoe drive to assist Soles4Souls Inc., an international footwear charity based in Nashville that delivers shoes to needy people around the world. During the shoe drive, Dutrey’s will offer a $5 savings certificate for each pair of gently worn shoes donated and up to $15 towards the purchase of new footwear.

“There are hurting people throughout the world,” said John Dutrey. “Shoes provide protection, comfort and relief. We all have several pairs in our closet that we can share with the less fortunate.”

The shoe drive continues through Feb. 28 at Dutrey’s, 290 E. Pomfret St.

Starting Line Sports in Madison, NJ, holding shoe drive

[from the Madison Eagle]

Gently worn pairs gain discount in shoe drive

MADISON – Now through Saturday, Feb. 28, Starting Line Sports, 67 Main St. in Madison, New Jersey, is hosting a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls, an international footwear charity that delivers shoes to needy people around the world.

During the drive, Starting Line Sports is offering a $10 discount to all customers who bring in gently worn pairs of shoes.

“This a great program for all involved,” said Robert Koppenol, owner of Starting Line Sports. “First and foremost, the program provides shoes to people who would otherwise do without. The program also provides an outlet for people to responsibly dispose of their used shoes. We would much prefer to see our used shoes go to people who will use and appreciate them, rather than into a landfill.”

“We are excited that Starting Line Sports is working with us to spread joy to people, both here in the United States and around the world,” said Wayne Elsey, founder of Soles4Souls. “It is only because of proactive retail stores, such as Starting Line Sports, that we are able to accomplish our goal of getting shoes on the feet of people who need them most.”

For information on the shoe drive and the discount toward a new pair of shoes, contact Koppenol at (973) 514-1057 or slsports@optonline.net.

Based in Nashville, Tenn., Souls4Souls facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes to needy people worldwide. Soles4Souls has distributed more than four million pairs of shoes. For information, visit www.giveshoes.org.

STRIDERS in Grandville, MI, is a new drop-of location for Soles4Souls

Striders, a specialty running store in Grandville, Michigan, is a local drop-off point for Soles4Souls. People are urged to drop off "gently worn" shoes at the store during regular business hours.

Striders is a true running specialty store. Our selection of shoes & apparel screams running. Each member of our staff is a runner and has been trained to match the right shoe to your particular foot shape and motion. It just makes sense to have a knowledgeable runner helping another fellow runner. Nobody wants to go to a store for a specialized product only to have some young clueless person pretend to know what he’s talking about. At Striders, there’s no pretending.

You’ll also find all the gear a tri-athlete may need, minus the bike. We carry a large selection of wetsuits, shorts, jerseys and accessories. For all you swimmers, we carry all the top lines of swimsuits.

But Striders is so much more than just selling products. We’re involved in the community helping with running-club events, high school events, college events and we also organize and sponsor 2 great running races. See our race events page.

Striders is owned by 2 avid runners, Steve and Deb Webster. While their step has slowed over the past 20 years, their love for running has not. You’ll still find them out running nearly every day, as do their children Erin and Andrew.

Stop by for a visit or to donate some gently worn shoes!

STRIDERS Specialty Running Store
4045 Chicago Dr. SW
Grandville, MI 49418
Monday - Friday: 9 am to 8 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 6 pm

North High School in Williamsville, NY, Holds Shoe Drive

The Amherst Bee is reporting that NORTH HIGH SCHOOL in Williamsville, New York, is holding a shoe drive that runs until February 27. All residents in the area are invited to drop off their "gently worn" shoes to join the students and teachers in helping Soles4Souls change the world, one pair at a time.

To date, more than 260 pairs of shoes have been collected.

For more information, visit the Amherst Bee's website.

Planning for festival heats up

[from the TECHNICIAN ONLINE, Raleigh, North Carolina]


Hillsborough Street planners work to prepare for day-long street festival


Organizers for the first annual Hillsborough Street Reneissance, a green arts and music festival designed to bring the community together, have started finalizing plans for the event.


Will McGuire, a senior in aerospace engineering and one of the event organizers, said plans for the March 14 event have continued to grow and change during the last month or so.


"Plans have been moving along," he said. "We're starting to finalize our plans for the festival. Right now we're focusing on sponsorship."


The street festival, scheduled to begin at noon and last until 10 p.m., will kick off the construction scheduled to take place on Hillsborough Street and the surronding area during the next two years.


The festival, McGuire said, is designed to bring the community of students, residents and local professionals together.


The event will also help three local charities--Engineers Without Borders, MorLove and Soles4Souls.


Since the planning started in late 2008, McGuire said the event has done nothing but grow.


"Initially, it was challenging because we had to meet with so many people and convince them the event was safe," he said. "After that, more and more people started to get involved."


McGuire said planners are still expecting up to 20,000 people to attend the event.


Attendees will have numerous attractions to choose from throughout the festival on March 14.


McGuire said there will be a pig and pie contest, an alternative fuels vehicle showcase, a fashion show, an iron chef contest and more.


The pig and pie cook off contest, sponsored by Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.


There will also be bands on hand to play throughout the day.


Joseph Heil, an event coordinator for the festival, said most of the bands scheduled to play will be from the area.


"I think most of them are from either Raleigh or Chapel Hill," he said. "They are all from North Carolina at least."


To accomodate the large crowds expected, Hillsborough Street will be closed the day of the festival from Wachovia to Bruegger's Bagels.


McGuire said the closing of Hillsborough Street will allow the renaissance to have the feel of a true street festival. Raleigh police officers will assist in closing down the street to make things safe.


"It will be mainly Raleigh police," McGuire said. "They have a special operations division that will be helping us out."


Joseph Heil, a senior in textile engineering, said getting the street closed took some work.


"The street closure was definitely a challenge," Heil said. "We talked to a couple of city council members and wrote a proposal to the Raleigh police department to close the street. That request had to be approved by the City Council."


The section of Hillsborough Street between Pogue Street and Logan Court will close at 7 a.m. March 14 and remain blocked off until 5 a.m. March 15.


McGuire said once plans are finalized, Legacy Event Planners, the nonprofit group responsible for planning events for Hillsborough Street, will begin advertising the event.


"Our publicity and marketing will start Feb. 14," he said. "Most people won't remember an event if you advertise it more than a month in advance."


McGuire said there will be representatives from a parking company on hand the day of the festival to help with parking and accommodating crowds.


"All the University is open on the weekends," she said. "Also, all the neighborhood parking will be open. Mclaurin parking lot will be open with no charge and lots near Nelson Hall will be available as well. People will be guiding traffic too."

"CUTE" DOES GOOD THINGS

Cute Will Not Only Help Clean Up the Earth, But Will Soon Put Shoes on the Feet of Those in Need


They have arrived. 70 pairs of new shoes arrived yesterday at Soles4Souls’ warehouse in Roanoke, AL via a UPS truck. These shoes were donated by Cute, llc in hopes they will soon bring joy to many who are in need.


The owners of Cute, llc acquired 70 pairs of new shoes from a boutique that closed down. The owners of the company took it upon themselves to research where to donate them to, making sure the unworn shoes would not end up for sale in a store somewhere. After some research, it was evident Soles4Souls was the way to go. These ladies personally packed the 70 pairs by removing the boxes and unnecessary tissue paper (tossing them in their recycling bin, of course), they tied the pairs together with rubber bands, taped up the boxes and hand delivered them to a UPS driver in their area (while absorbing the shipping costs). “I was drawn to this organization when I read that their primary focus is disaster relief. They like to have an inventory on hand to be able to respond quickly to one. Our company plans on making donations to organizations such as Global Green USA which is helping rebuild a “green” New Orleans. I knew I didn’t have to search any further,” said Niurka, co-founder of Cute, llc.


Cute, llc was established in April of 2008 in hopes that their eco-friendly reusable market bags will send out the message that Swarovski crystals spell out on their Cute Bags: Cute (clean up the earth). Part of the proceeds of each bag will be donated to various organizations that are dedicated to doing good things for our planet. Cute’s mission is to reduce litter and encourage customers to tote their groceries in their reusable organic cotton bags. They want their consumers to be fashionably cute while being ecologically conscious.

Footprints Collecting Shoes

Footprints, a shoe store in Delafield, WI is collecting gently worn shoes for Soles4Souls.

People who donate shoes will receive a 20% discount coupon for use in the store. The offer runs all during the month of February. Footprints is in the Wal-Mart shopping center at the southeast corner of the I-94/Highway 83 interchange.

Footprints carries a huge selection of Birkenstock, Dansko, KEEN, as well as many other styles. For more information, visit http://www.footprintshoes.net/.

Cal State Fullerton Students Collect Shoes

Donating shoes is the new fad in community service for college students. Whether you sport the trendy Toms or collect used shoes for those in need like Cal State Fullerton's Multicultural Greek Council, it's good for you and the world.

MCGC will be holding a shoe drive on Tuesday, Feb. 3 in the main Quad of CSUF from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m to collect shoes for Soles4Souls, MCGC President Phuong Le, said. Music, snacks, fliers and information will also be available. The shoe drive is part of a month-long effort to collect shoes.

"People get new shoes for Christmas," Le, a 21-year-old human services major, said. "I thought this philanthropy would be a great idea because college students have so many unused shoes in their closets, and what better thing to do with them than to help someone else out?"

Le wanted to start the new semester off the right way. She thought about a "kick-off," and immediately knew she wanted to do something with shoes. She searched the internet for shoe charities and Soles4Souls came up.

Jose Mendoza, a 19-year-old political science major and a memeber of the MCGC, likes the idea of Soles4Souls because it is helping people of different cultures all over the world. "It doesn't just help one specific region. It goes where it's most needed," he said.

MCGC is excited about helping out the needy, as well as getting their name spread around campus.

"We're a pretty small council, and we're trying to put our name on the map. By doing Soles4Souls, it's a way to show that MCGC, as small as we are, is trying to give back to the community as much as we can," Shuavarnnasri said.

MCGC is collecting all styles of shoes for Soles4Souls, from high heels to running shoes, Le said. After Tuesday's event, they will be collecting shoes in the Dean of Students office in TSU-235 for the rest of February. Le asks for a $1 donation so the shoes can be cleaned and shipped to the Soles4Souls warehouse in Las Vegas.

The Erie Shoe Fly Drive

The Erie Shoe Fly Store announced recently that it will host a shoe drive to assist Soles4Souls. The Erie Shoe Fly Store is located at 7520 Peach Street in Erie, PA.


During the shoe drive, The Erie Shoe Fly Stores will be offering a $5 Savings Certificate for each pair of gently worn shoes donated and up to $15 towards the purchase of new footwear in their store. The shoe drive will begin on February 1, 2009 and will end on February 28, 2009.

"There are hurting people throughout the world and shoes provide protection, comfort and relief," said store manager Art Oligeri. "We all have several pairs in our closet that we can share with the less fortunate."

Kiddie Shoppe to Host Drive

The Kiddie Shoppe, the store that specializes in hard to find kid's shoes, has announced that it is hosting a shoe drive to benefit Soles4Souls.

During the shoe drive, The Kiddie Shoppe will offer shoppers a discount off a new pair of children's shoes to customers who bring in a gently-worn pair of shoes.


The shoe drive begins this Sunday, Feb. 1st and ends Sunday, Feb. 28th.

"For 76 years, The Kiddie Shoppe has been all about children in our area. Not just dressing them, but trying to make a better life for them," store owner Rick McKnight said. “This program will allow parents to talk with their children about helping other children all over the globe by the simple act of putting a pair of their used shoes in a barrel in Columbus Ga."

The Kiddie Shoppe is located on 1640 Rollins Way in Columbus GA. For more information call 706-327-0334.

Soles4Souls Partners with Liberty Tax Services

Soles4Souls announced the creation of a national partnership with Liberty Tax Services. Customers can use coupons to receive a $20 discount on their 2008 tax services and Liberty Tax will donate an additional $20 to Soles4Souls for each coupon used. In addition, at participating locations customers will be able to donate their "gently worn" pairs of shoes. Visit www.giveshoes.org to find a participating location near you. All shoes donated to Soles4Souls will go directly to helping needy people in the United States and around the world.

"Our Liberty Tax team is energized to help this worthy cause by creating a buzz in our offices and communities that will generate collections, donations and further national awareness for Soles4Souls," said John Hewitt, CEO and Founder of Liberty Tax Service.

Customers can send an email with the location of your service and contact information to libtax@giveshoes.org. A Soles4Souls representative will email the customer a printable coupon. In addition, select Liberty Tax offices will host shoe drives during the tax season. Patriotic-themed shoe collection boxes will be at these locations and customers are encouraged to clean out their closests and donate their shoes to help those in need.

Stan's Share-A-Pair for Soles4Souls

Was one of your New Year's resolutions to help those less fortunate this year but the tough economy is preventing you from doing so? Is your closet overflowing with shoes? If so and you live in the Greater Milwaukee, WI area, here is the perfect opportunity to help others while clearing out your clutter - our friends at Stan's Fit For Your Feet will be hosting their "Third Annual Share A Pair" shoe drive from Sunday, February 1 thru Saturday, February 28.

People can drop off their new or gently used shoes Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. or Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m. at any of the "Share A Pair" collection bins at Stan's Greenfield store in the Layton Plaza at 7405 W. Layton Ave., Stan's Brookfield store, in V. Richard's Plaza at 17155 W. Bluemound Road or Stan's Glendale store across from Bay Shore Town Center at 505 W. Silver Spring Drive.

Admirals' fans attending the Sunday, February 15 afternoon game will also have the opportunity to "Share A Pair" at a special drop off location within the Bradley Center.

The annual shoe drive, hosted by Stan's Fit For Your Feet, has collected nearly 10,000 gently used pairs of shoes from Greater Milwaukee residents since its inception. All donated shoes are passed onto Soles4Souls. In addition, Stan's employees personally deliver and fit shoes for many of the area's homeless who frequent Milwaukee's Repairers of the Breach homeless shelter.

"We hope the residents of Greater Milwaukee will brave the cold and snow to once again embrace our shoe drive," said Jim Sajdak, owner of Stan's Fit For Your Feet. "The poor economy is impacting so many people and the need to reach out to others who are less fortunate has never been greater."

"This is a really easy way to help Soles4Souls and Repairers of the Breach who are both doing incredible things for the less fortunate people in our world," continued Sajdak, "We'd like to encourage everyone to bring in that pair of gently used shoes that doesn't fit quite right or that they no longer wear. Join the cause, and clean out the clutter of your closet."

As a way of saying thank you, people donating shoes at Stan's Fit For Your Feet will receive a $10 gift certificate to be used towards a footwear purchase during February at any Stan's Fit For Your Feet location.

For more information on the "Share A Pair" shoe drive, visit stansfootwear.com or call 262-432-4030. Stan's is locally owned and operated. It has been in business since 1950, and specializes in quality footwear from around the world. Its three stores are home to Wisconsin's largest collection of regular and hard to find shoe sizes.

Puma Partners with Soles4Souls at Sundance

Sportslifestyle brand PUMA made a special appearance at this year's Sundance Film Festival at the Film Lounge Media Center, which included the Getty Images/WireImage Portrait Studio. Celebrities and special guests had the opportunity to give back by signing PUMA footwear that will be auctioned off to benefit Soles4Souls.

"Park City is buzzing with excitement this time of year," said Jay Piccola, President of PUMA North America. "We are so thankful to be a part of it and to be able to give back to such a noteworthy cause."

In addition to the autographed shoes, PUMA will be donating footwear to the organization on behalf of each of the lounge's guests.

"We are very excited about working with PUMA at the Sundance Film Festival," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "This is a tremendous opportunity to enlist Hollywood stars to donate signed footwear that will benefit needy people here in the U.S. and around the world. We are extremely grateful that PUMA thought of Soles4Souls and the people who look to us for help," he said.

Visitors to the PUMA lounge will also had a chance to experience 60 Years of PUMA's history. The brand just celebrated its 60th anniversary and the lounge was decked out with iconic imagery, archival footwear, historic ads and other memorabilia from the last 6 decades. This initiative rounds out a string of events and programs thrown by the brand in celebration of its birthday.

This is the second year that PUMA has had a presence at Sundance. In 2008 PUMA hosted a special customization booth with their Mongolian Shoe BBQ program to benefit Clothes off our Backs. The PUMA lounge will be open January 16th through 21st at The Film Lounge Media Center in Park City, Utah.

See Kai Run's matching Charity Promo nets 9,700 Shoes

See Kai Run was able to donate more than 9,700 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls thanks to its November/December 2008 promotional event. The company matched each pair of shoes sold on its retail Web site during the two-month promo.

With this donation, See Kai Run will have shared a total of nearly 34,000 pairs of shoes to children who need them the most. “Share A Pair” is part of See Kai Run’s overall charitable giving campaign, which focuses on international, national, and local charities for children.

"Although 2009 will be a difficult year for many of us, we can be grateful that we are able to purchase a comfortable pair of shoes for our own children,” said founder Cause Haun. “We are so happy that through their purchases at seekairun.com, parents across North America were also able to provide a pair of shoes to a deserving child in another part of the world. As always, Soles4Souls makes it incredibly easy to help and we are grateful for that."

See Kai Run is a family-owned and operated business located outside of Seattle, Washington. The idea was born when owner Cause Haun was on a quest for the perfect first pair of shoes for her son, Kai. Unable to find shoes in fun styles that still promoted the healthy development of little feet, Cause and her husband created their own line of shoes that satisfied all of these needs. In just four years, See Kai Run has seen sales expand from a few boutiques, mostly in the Seattle area, to stores all around the country and worldwide.

Livin' the Music Event for Soles4Souls

Livin’ the Music is a non-profit organization that was founded on the idea that music can, and will, change the world. The purpose of Livin’ the Music is to use music to bring light, love & hope to those in need.

Last Night, Livin' the Music hosted a songwriters night to celebrate their one-year anniversary which benefited Soles4Souls.

Livin' the Music also helped Soles4Souls launch the 'Talkin' it to the Streets' campaign. Volunteers and Songwriters went to three different places in Nashville to deliver shoes to those in need, including the homeless and women's shelters. A different group of artists volunteered their singing and song writing 'talents' at each of the locations.

Livin' the Music also collected many shoes for Soles4Souls during the anniversary party after the shoe drop off. Everyone who brought a pair of gently worn shoes received a gift.

Adam Gregory Partners with Soles4Souls

Adam Gregory, a rising country star has teamed up with Soles4Souls to raise money and provide shoes for needy individuals around the world during his 'What It Takes' 2009 club tour.

The ten-week tour includes dates in 25 different cities, beginning Jan. 19 and running through March 31. Fans will be provided an opportunity to donate a new or gently worn pair of shoes or make a donation to the Soles4Souls organization.

“I’m really looking forward to these shows because I feel like we can make a difference in people’s lives,” Adam says. “It’s not just me performing for an audience, it’s all of us working together for a bigger cause. I can’t wait to get started.”

Adam, whose new single is “What It Takes,” will kick off the partnership on Jan. 8 by delivering shoes to local Nashville shelters as part of the “Takin’ It to the Streets” shoe drive. He will perform at the “Livin’ the Music” benefit concert for Soles4Souls at Nashville club 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill later that night.

Shoe Giveaway at the Wade Center

The Wade Center in Blufield, West Virginia handed out hundreds of shoes to their students over the Holiday break. The Wade Center exists to nurture Bluefield’s children and youth, many who come from impoverished homes, through spiritual, physical, emotional and intellectual programs and mentoring relationships.

Vicki Mahood, the program and finance director of the Wade Center, displayed the shoes in the game room in a "store" type setting. Through out the week, students came down to the "shoe store" to try on shoes and take a pair home they liked.

"The Christmas shoes were a huge success," said Mahood. "The kids were so excited and soon the news was spreading to all the other kids on the hall that they were receiving new shoes. By the end of the week, the building was full of smiling faces all wearing their NEW SHOES!"

Mary Williams, who now lives and works in North Carolina, hosted a shoe drive for the kids of her home town of Bluefield, WV. Soles4Souls sent an additional two hundred new pairs of athletics to go along with the shoes Mary collected.

Soles4Souls Heading to Miami to Pick Up Thousands of "Lost Shoes" Spilled on Highway

Thousands of shoes were dumped on a Miami expressway Friday morning causing significant traffic delays.

Lt. Pat Santangelo says the Florida Highway Patrol received the report during rush hour. Workers were able to clear at least one lane after a short time by sweeping all the shoes to shoulder, but delays were expected to last until all the shoes could be removed.

Santangelo says he's not sure where the shoes came from. There were no signs of a crash, and no one stopped to claim them. He says the shoes appear to be used, and most were tied together in pairs. He says he's looking for a charity to take the shoes, rather than sending them to the dump.

Soles4Souls contacted the Florida Highway Patrol and offered to immediately collect the shoes on behalf of needy people it supports.

"These shoes are abandoned property and we're happy that Soles4Souls can make good use out them," said Santengelo.

Soles4Souls Founder and CEO, Wayne Elsey, said the sight of thousands of abandoned shoes was a stark reminder of how many shoes are tossed into American landfills. "Too many perfectly good shoes are thrown away each year, and it's a shame," he said. "Soles4Souls is dedicated to keeping usable footwear out of our landfills and putting them on the feet of needy people around the world," he said.

Soles4Souls has a team on the way to Miami to pick up the shoes, and will distribute them to needy people in Haiti. The island nation is still recovering after a devastating hurricane season, and the shoe charity has already distributed 100,000 pairs of shoes to Haitians in the past four months. Soles4Souls is working with several other charities to send relief shipments of food, clothing, shoes and medicine before the end of January.

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."

Villages in Haiti Receive Footwear

A container of food, clothing and shoes were sent to villages in Haiti that were hit hard from hurricanes this past year. In partnership with Global Outreach Haiti, about 7500 pairs of shoes were distributed among villages in the Bon Repos area and suburbs of Port-au-Prince.

"We had hundreds of people waiting for us when we arrived with food, clothing and the new shoes," said David Heady of Global Outreach Haiti. "For many of these children and adults...all they have ever had on their feet were flip flops. What a thrill to see their faces light up as they received their new shoes and clothes," he said.

Four hurricanes or tropical storms—Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike—pounded Haiti one after the other in August and September of 2008, killing more than 800. Around a million people were left homeless and some 100,000 homes were damaged in the Caribbean country, which is the poorest in the region.

Through generous support from distributors, retailers and individuals, Soles4souls has sent about 100,000 pairs of shoes in the last four months to Haiti.

Fairmont Hotels Announces ‘Give from the Sole’ Campaign

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, a leader in the global hospitality industry, has announced a partnership with Soles4Souls. Buying one gift card at Fairmont now means giving two gifts: for each gift card purchased before December 31, 2008, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts will donate a pair of footwear to Soles4Souls.

The holiday season gift card donation is one aspect of a new partnership in which Fairmont properties worldwide donate gently used footwear from Fairmont Fit. The program offers members of Fairmont President’s Club, the brand’s exclusive guest recognition program, access to adidas athletic apparel for use during their stay.

“We would like to thank the people at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts for their generosity that allows us to accomplish our goals,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder & CEO of Soles4Souls. “The ‘Give from the Sole’ campaign will make a positive impact in thousands of lives,” he said.

“We’re proud to support Soles4Souls throughout the year, but particularly during the holiday season, when so many are in need,” said Brian Richardson, Fairmont’s Vice President Brand Marketing and Communications. “We know our guests will also welcome this opportunity to give back.”

Gift cards may be purchased at all Fairmont hotels and resorts, at Willow Stream Spas (in select hotels) or online at http://www.fairmont.com/giftcard. Online purchases are available in any denomination ranging from $50 to $5000.

The Walking Place Drive

The Walking Place in Rookwood Commons in Cincinnati, OH has partnered with Soles4Souls for a shoe drive. This is the fourth year that the shoe store has hosted a drive for Soles4Souls.

"Before working with Soles4Souls, we would give donated shoes to local charities," said Debbie Davis of The Walking Place. "However after hearing about Soles4Souls we felt that their organization could allow us to help more people."

Davis said those who donate will receive 15 percent off of a new pair of shoes. The Walking place has seen donations increase every year through word of mouth.

New or gently used shoes can be dropped off at The Walking Place in Rookwood Commons at 2733 Edmondson Road Cincinnati, Ohio until the end of the year.

The Walking Place offers a world-class selection of European comfort shoes, more brand names and more styles than anywhere else in the entire Midwest.

Elementary Students Collect Shoes for Needy

St. Columbkille Elementary School in Dubuque, IA recently teamed with Soles4Souls to collect gently worn shoes for people in need throughout the world and in the U.S.


The school collected 298 pairs of shoes from community members and raised $410 between Nov. 21 through Dec. 1. They also received a donation from UPS that will go toward shipping the shoes to the Soles4Souls primary warehouse in Roanoke, Ala.

Great job St. Columbkille Elementary School!

Soles4Souls Featured in National Geographic's "The Green Guide"

National Geographic Magazine has featured Soles4Souls in "The Green Guide" that highlights the humanitarian process, following a sample of donated shoes to the Soles4Souls warehouse and continuing to a final destination benefiting children in Mexico.

The Green Guide makes living in an environmentally-aware way easy, understandable, and practical. Intended for general consumers, the Green Guide (in print and on the web) shows people how to make small changes that add up to big benefits for their wallets, for their health, and, of course, for the health of the planet.

"Appearing in The Green Guide is an incredible honor," said Wayne Elsey of Soles4Souls. "It's humbling to see our work presented in such a prestigious publication and we are very grateful for the beautiful photo essay. The story clearly demonstrates the generosity of our partners and volunteers, and we are truly blessed to have fantastic supporters join with us to change the world one pair at a time," he said.

Elsey said that ongoing support is crucial to the success of Soles4Souls. "Simply cleaning out your closet and sending us your forgotten pairs can make a huge impact on someone's life. If you've ever wondered where your donated shoes end up, we invite you to get a current issue of The Green Guide and see for yourself," he said.

Key Club Sole Project

When the Harrisonburg High School Key Club in Harrisburg, VA began collecting shoes for those in need, its members never anticipated the response the project would receive.

Since the beginning of November, when it began collecting shoes for Soles4Souls, the club has gathered between 1,200 and 1,300 pairs of footwear.

HHS teachers, staff members and students donated all but about 80 pairs of the shoes the Key Club has collected, said Maurizio "Tony" Antonnicola, club adviser. Some of the shoes are gently used, while others are practically brand new, he said.

"It turned out to be much more successful than we thought it would,"" said Meredith Rose, 17, a senior and Key Club member, of the project.

In fact, many of the Key Club members were skeptical about the project at first because they didn't think it would draw much of a response, Antonnicola said.

It wasn't until a national news story aired about a college basketball coach who went barefoot to draw attention to the need for shoes around the world that students really got on board with the project, Antonnicola said.

After committing to the effort, Key Club members began getting the word out about the shoe drive. They told their friends about the project, erected a display near the school's library and broadcast it on the school's student news program.

Before they knew it, club members say, they had hundreds of pairs of shoes and the donations kept pouring in. The drive has really given students an insight into people's waste, they say.

"Statistics are great and all but they're just numbers,"" said Tina Nguyen, 17, a junior and Key Club member, referring to the statistics regarding the number of idle shoes. "This project was kind of an eye-opener."

Members of the club say their goal going into the drive was to collect 1,000 pairs of shoes, but they've already exceeded that and still have nine more days to collect donations.

As the drive enters its last days, club members say they hope to collect a few more pairs of children's shoes, before an HHS staff member hauls the donations to the Soles4Souls distribution center in Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville Schools Help Raise Money For Sole4Souls

Three Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools are contributing shoes and funds to Soles4Souls.

Encore Program students at Croft and J.T. Moore Middle Schools are hosting a shoe drive, Dec. 8-12, to collect shoes for Soles4Souls and to help break the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of shoes. The students will be collecting new and slightly used shoes, all sizes, for women, men and children. The shoe collection will be combined with other shoe donations at Opry Mills Mall on Dec. 20.

Croft students will also be participating in the Walking a Mile in Their Shoes fundraiser, Dec 15 and Dec. 16. The walk will help raise funds to purchase new shoes for Soles4Souls.

H.G. Hill Middle School students will assist Soles4Souls by hosting a penny drive. Money collected from the drive will also be used to purchase new shoes.

Group in Oregon Collects Shoes

The McDonald group, a staffing agency in Bend OR, hosted a Holiday party where 191 pair of gently worn shoes were collected. More than half of those shoes will be donated to Soles4Souls, the rest will go to the Bend Community Center.

"To see the Bend, Oregon community come together to support this cause was incredible.," said Anne McDonald, the president and CEO of The McDonald Group. "I feel fortunate to live and work with people that give back to those in need both locally and abroad.”

The McDonald group also collected 380 pounds of food for the less fortunate in the Central Oregon area. Proceeds of the party went to the local Boys and Girls club that recently had to shut their doors for 30 days due to funding.

Long Journey for Barefoot Teen Nears Completion

Dashiel Alsup can't help but look back on the seven months since he stepped away from the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean and started walking toward Florida. The first week was brutal: his feet were coated with blisters, he was consumed with loneliness and plagued with doubts about ever reaching the East Coast. 

"Florida felt like a fairly impossible goal," he says. 

But Dash kept walking, mile after mile.

The 19-year-old encountered wild animals in the cold Oregon mountains and suffered through 100+ degree heat walking through the Flaming Gorge in Utah during a scorching week. 

"Yeah, those were hot days, and 60 miles between stops," he said. "But coming into Vernal, Utah and getting to the 7-11 to pick up an ice cold 44 ounce Big Gulp was joyous," he says, laughing.

Dash kept walking, steadily achieving 20-25 miles per day, mostly barefoot, through Colorado, Kansas and Missouri. 

"There were a few times that I had to put on sandals, when the road conditions were just too hot or the debris was so bad," he says.

He lost count of the number of people who gave him food or gave him a place to stay for the night, insisting on feeding him dinner, or sharing their faith. 

"America is full of incredibly gracious people," he says. "I can't tell you how many times someone went out of their way to help me. They had no idea what I was up to, they were just doing it from their heart."

There were also times his safety was in doubt. Occasionally, locals would confront him about his intentions before they realized he was supporting charity. Dash spent one day working for a man who had spent 11 years in prison for drug smuggling. 

"Here we are alone, deep in the woods, and I'm hauling brush while he's getting sauced and revving up his chainsaw," Dash says. "Turns out he was a good guy; he just wanted someone to confide in, not chop into pieces."

Dash started appearing in newspaper stories and being featured on television, especially in Nashville, where Soles4Souls is based. He walked together with charity Founder, Wayne Elsey, to a local shelter to distribute shoes to the homeless.

"He is a special kid, and there's no doubt his commitment to helping people is authentic," says Elsey. "Just look at all the fans he has who are following his epic journey. We're proud to be associated with him."

He walked southeast through Georgia, sensing the end of the journey and counting down the number of miles to Jacksonville. Today, he's less than 100 miles from the end of his journey, and hundreds of supporters and Soles4Souls staff will be on hand to walk with him to the Atlantic. Even several NFL players from the Jacksonville Jaguars will be in attendance and participate in another shoe distribution for homeless in their city.

"I'm happy that I can bring some attention to Soles4Souls," he says. "It's a simple thing, you know, putting shoes on people's feet. For people without shoes, it can mean the world."

Soldiers in Iraq Sending Boots

Here is a recent email from a soldier in Iraq helping to collect boots from her fellow soldiers.


My name is Christine Brosius and I am currently deployed to Iraq. We are re-deploying soon and I am collecting shoes from a lot of the soldiers in the area to donate to your organization.

The only problem is I can not wash these shoes, because we don’t have access to washing machines to wash the shoes in. We turn in our laundry, but they will not let us wash shoes. I have had a lot of support and would like these shoes that are probably still good, but as you may know it is very dusty and muddy here, so Soldiers are getting rid of their shoes before we go back.

I have a box now and probably will have another box in JAN. If you don’t mind us not washing these shoes, and want them for donation, please respond back so I can get them mailed to you. Thanks in advance.

Christine Brosius
SFC(P), USA

Thank you Christine, we can always use sturdy boots. Don't worry about washing them, we will clean them. Thanks for the support and we hope you come home soon!

Vermont Doctors Get Shoes For The Homeless

Winter is a bad time to walk around in worn-out shoes, especially for the homeless. That's why a group of medical professionals from Fletcher Allen Health Care at the University of Vermont got involved with Soles4Souls to hand out brand new shoes to those who need them the most.

The program focused on the Day Station at the Committee on Temporary Shelter in Burlington, VT. It's a place for the homeless to get out of the weather and sit down during the day.

This time, they sat down in front of a couple of foot doctors to get fitted for new shoes. The Redwing company donated 12,000 pairs nationwide to the cause. The homeless themselves will tell you, a new pair makes all the difference.

Bill Blood, a Burlington COTS client, said, "After jeopardizing myself this morning by slipping and sliding six times on my royal rump this morning, on the ice -- even with a cane -- Ahhh, I'm so glad I have something good now to give me some traction."

The COTS shoes for the homeless program is a nice fit for the Day Station. That's because COTS does more than just provide shelter. The agency tries to help the homeless help themselves.
The homeless tend to encounter mounting problems, of which doctors Jim Michelson and Mark Charlson are well aware -- including poor health.

Dr. Jim Michelson, a Fletcher Allen Health Care Orthopedic Surgeon, said, "I think if they do have more problems it's because they don't come to medical care, you know, they don't have the opportunity to take care of themselves. They don't have a place to sit down at night and take off their shoes and socks. They wear them for days on end, which is not healthy. But I think that's really the main issue. It's the health access issue," he said.

A decent pair of shoes is a basic start. Any obvious medical problems are also spotted. Shoes for the Homeless had about a hundred pairs to give away on this occasion. It's one step that could make the winter easier to bear for those who took advantage of it.

Thy Brothers' Helper

The Harrisonburg High School Key Club in Harrisonburg, VA won the first Youth In Philanthropy Award, which recognizes service by youths through age 18 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to the community through leadership.

The group, which has about 40 core members, has been working on a shoe drive this year to benefit Soles4Souls.

Members are collecting gently worn shoes to be shipped both domestically and internationally, and they've got around 400 pairs of shoes already collected, said Tony Antonnicola, the group's adviser. The group's goal is 1,000 pairs by the end of the year.

Last year, the club was recognized as the world's second-ranking Key Club in raising funds for UNICEF.

"This is definitely an honor," said Rupal Patel, a 17-year-old senior at HHS and president of the club. "We do a lot around the community and it's nice to be recognized, to know that someone's watching."

The diverse group of kids all volunteer loads of time and donate their own money to the projects.

Email From Eagles Ranch

Due to the generous donations of our supporters and partners, we are able to enjoy many emails and letters of gratitude.

Recently, more than 50 children and support staff at Eagles Ranch in Georgia were outfitted for new shoes. The Ranch works with children in crisis, focusing on family restoration and reunification. Since its founding in 1985, the Ranch has served over 700 boys and girls.

Soles4Souls partnered with Jan Ros of Eagles Ranch and Atlanta Falcons center Todd McClure to deliver this early holiday gift.

This email came from one of the house moms shortly after the shoes were delivered. We thought it was only fair to share it with you.

Dear Soles4Souls, I just wanted to take a minute thank you for what you do. I can tell you the girls in our home were truly blessed yesterday. These were a couple of the comments that took place throughout the evening after they received their shoes.

Brooke, the girl in our home that was TRULY in need, says “Oh, my goodness I can’t wait to give my mom her tennis shoes back, she's been letting me borrow them all year!”

Kayla just couldn’t say enough about how much she liked her shoes. She says “Miss Kelly, they even have changeable shoelaces!!” I can’t wait to try out the pink laces!” Then I had to take her to physical therapy and on the way home she says, “Miss Kelly, the doctor commented on my new shoes, she liked them!”

The gentleman that was taking time with our kids was so kind. He made Riley feel so very special, and I think he has been on “special shoes count down” ever since.

Then I went up last night and found some wonderful shoes for myself and while there, found another pair that I thought Brooke would like. Since she is more in need, I brought them home and she could not believe that she was able to have them. She said she saw them and loved them so much, but really needed the tennis shoes more.

Anyway, there is no way that you can fully understand the excitement that you brought into our home, but I wanted to try and convey that to you in some small way. The people that humbled themselves and put shoes on our girls feet touched me so much and I don’t even know who they were to thank them. Maybe in sending this to you, you can get the word out to them. Thank you all so very much.

Sincerely

Ken and Kelly Mitchell
Glory Home

Bloggers Helping Soles4Souls to Reach 50,000 Pair Goal

There are 36 days left in the '50,000 pair in 50 Days challenge' and Nashville writer, editor and blogger Jeff Goins wants to see the challenge met.

Jeff works for the nonprofit organization Adventures in Missions, recruiting people for short-term mission trips. He heard about the 50,000 pair challenge from Soles4Souls partner Anne Jackson, the Zondervan author who is causing a viral campaign of blogging, tweets, and facebook frenzy to help Soles4Souls reach the mark.

While 50,000 pair is lofty goal, Jeff thinks it can be done because of the simplicity of the mission.

"I joined the campaign without anyone guilt-tripping me or twisting my arm," Jeff stated in his blog. "Seeing something so organic and low-key, yet of such a magnitude to impact 50,000 lives, was attractive in and of itself. I needed no coercion, no expensive ad campaigns, no mind-blowing technology to win me over," he said.

Read Jeff Goins' entire blog entry here.

Read Anne Jackson's blog.

To help spread the word, use the widget code on the landing page to post a link on your blog. Email everyone you know. Join the facebook group. Ask your friends to do the same!

St. Gregory’s to the Rescue

St. Gregory's Catholic School in Maryville, Mo unloaded 1,076 pairs of shoes Thursday at the home of The Rev. James Lawson to be donated to Soles4souls.

The sixth grade class, led by Teacher Jennie Halley (above) began an initiative in the Catholic school and church asking families to donate slightly used or new pairs of shoes. Rev. Lawson said he will be collecting shoes throughout the rest of the month before sending them to Soles4Souls.

Teen Gathers Shoes for the Needy

Andrea Diez de Oñate of Pembroke Pines, FL took the idea of giving very seriously -- to the soul of its meaning -- and gave the shoes off her feet to the poor.

''I was inspired,'' said Andrea, 17, a senior at Archbishop Edward McCarthy High School in Southwest Ranches.

That was last month after Andrea found Soles4Souls on the Internet and promoted the cause in Southwest Ranches.

Andrea, an after-school teacher of Catholic education for public school children at St. Mark Catholic School, encouraged students to give up their soles. Fittingly, she gave the kids until All Souls' Day, Nov. 2, to get it done.

The goal was to collect 1,000 pairs of gently worn or new shoes ranging in styles from beach-worthy flip-flops to high-end high heels.

''I thought 1,000 pairs was a lot to ask for, but on the first day of the collection, we filled a car not once, but twice, with bags filled with shoes,'' Andrea said.

Infant shoes, sneakers for tots to teens, embellished sandals, men's Italian business shoes, construction work boots and even snow boots poured in from the school's 100 students. Soon, McCarthy High teachers and students kicked in shoes, too.

Andrea's mother, Lisette Diez de Oñate, who helped her daughter transport the shoes, said the collection surpassed expectations so quickly that storage was moved from the family garage to a donated unit at West Pines Storage.

''It was one giant pile of shoes,'' Diez de Oñate said.

One donor delivered five pairs of brand-new shoes neatly tucked into individual Ziploc bags. Some new shoes arrived still in the box with packaging tissue stuffed inside.

At least one pair seemed strikingly familiar.

''We were packing bags and I thought, ``Hmm, I recognize these. I know my mother's feet,'' Diez de Oñate said.

Andrea's grandmother, Abbey Roiz, and her entire family ended up emptying closets of a dozen pairs of shoes.

By the end of this month, the family will take a road trip to deliver the project's 1,300 total pairs of shoes directly to the Soles4Souls distribution center in Alabama.

Andrea, an honor student whose community service includes three years of leading multiple projects in McCarthy's Support Our Troops, Interact and Key Club programs, said it was ''cool'' to be able to help hundreds of people.

''I'm happy to inspire people who have everything to help people who need so much. It's the right thing to do,'' Andrea said.

Belmont Faithful Step Up for Soles4Souls

Belmont University in Nashville, TN recently hosted a fundraiser for Soles4Souls. Students, faculty and friends gathered to donate shoes and enjoy some live music.


The free concert was at Belmont's Curb Event Center as part of a campaign to collect shoes for 300 million children throughout the world who need them.

Soles4Souls founder Wayne Elsey and spokesperson Tiffany Johnson joined the fun with the students and faculty.

Free Footwear Donated to Homeless in Arkansas

Free footwear will be distributed next week by River City Ministries for the homeless in the Little Rock area.

Red Wing Shoe Company recently donated 12,000 pairs of high quality Red Wing footwear to Soles4Souls which will designated many of them for the annual Thanksgiving Program called 'Our Hearts to Your Soles.'

'Our Hearts to your Soles' was founded in 2004 by Pittsburgh teenagers Matt and Laura Conti, whose father is an ankle and foot surgeon at Allegheny General Hospital. During Thanksgiving Week 2008, Soles4Souls, in partnership with Hearts to Soles, will provide new boots, socks and medical screenings from foot doctors for over 3,000 homeless men in 35 states.

"We are so thankful for Dr. Ruth Thomas and River City Ministries for reaching out to people to provide a vital service that helps make an immediate impact on people in a great time of need," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "A pair of durable boots can fill a person with hope and confidence. It's a major step towards employment and building self-esteem," he said.

The Hearts to Soles distribution is set for Thursday, November 20 from 6:00 pm 8:00 pm at River City Ministries at 1021 E. Washington, NLR, AR 6 blocks east on Broadway to Hickory and turn right, 2 blocks down on the corner of Hickory and Washington.

Hubba Hubba Boutique Wants Your Shoes

The owners of Hubba Hubba boutique in Chicago, IL have decided it’s time to do something about the unused shoes lying idly in your closet! So, until November 30th, they’re giving customers 25 percent off any one item in exchange for an old pair of shoes. If you bring in five pairs, you get 25 percent off your entire purchase.

All shoes will be donated to Soles4Souls, where they will be inspected and cleaned before finding a new and thankful owner.

Hubba Hubba offeres moderately priced women's romantic and classic-style clothing for day and evening wear, as well as new and vintage costume jewelry, accessories and gift items.

Hubba Hubba is located on 3309 N. Clark Street. Call (773) 477-1414 for more information.

Join Soles4Souls and Chris Hope for a "Night with the Secondary"

Team Strategies announces the 1st Annual Chris Hope “Night with the Secondary” to benefit Soles4Souls on Thursday, December 4, 2008 from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at Shogun Steakhouse in Brentwood, Tennessee.

Come join Chris and the entire Tennessee Titans secondary for an evening of fun, fabulous food, and festivities while raising money for a great cause. Chris and Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, Nick Harper and many more will “tackle” the task of cooking for you, pose for photographs, sign autographs and generally yuck it up while guests bid on some unique and priceless silent auction items.

Chris has donated his time to Soles4Souls by distributing shoes to those in need in the Nashville area. He also recently donated $8,000.00 to help purchase shoes for those in need.

Shogun, one of Tennessee’s largest Japanese Steakhouses, offers the thrill and tranquility of Japanese dining all under one roof. The hibachi tables seat 10 people each and the players will display their newly acquired training as an official hibachi Chef with performances of chopping and dicing. The 4-course hibachi dinner will include an appetizer, soup, salad and vegetables, along with steak, seafood and chicken.

Individual Tickets are $100.00 or $900.00 for a table of 10. Space is limited. Shogun Restaurant is located at 1638 Westgate Circle, Brentwood, Tennessee 37207. Contact Team Strategies at 615-321-4073 or teamstrategies@comcast.net to purchase tickets.

The Murfreesboro Half Marathon Donation

The Murfreesboro Half Marathon, in partnership with Soles4Soles, donated 532 pairs of new shoes to the Murfreesboro and Rutherford County school systems in Tennessee that will benefit needy and homeless students.

Rutherford County Schools has reported that more than 600 enrolled children within their educational system are homeless and have homeless parents for the year 2007.

"Right now we have 605 pupils in the Rutherford County Schools that reported being homeless," said Kim Snell, the homeless student liaison provided to the schools under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act passed by Congress in 1986. "That's not including the Murfreesboro City Schools."

In addition to the 532 new pair of shoes, over 1,000 pairs of gently worn shoes were collected during the half marathon. These shoes will be inspected and shipped to third world countries and disaster-stricken areas.

50,000 Pairs in 50 Days

Starting today, Soles4Souls will be launching the 50K in 50 days Charity Campaign.

We are spreading the word to all our supporters and partners to help raise money to buy 50,000 pairs of shoes in just 50 days!


The best part - $5 buys 2 pairs of shoes! It takes under 2 minutes and only three clicks to make a donation. So if you think this is something you can do...five bucks, three clicks and two minutes for 2 pairs of shoes, just visit http://www.50000shoes.com/.


More importantly, this can only happen if we spread the word...so please forward this on to your families, friends and colleagues.


Also, every person who donates on the site will be entered in to win a trip to Mexico to hand deliver the shoes they bought to families in need. Imagine handing a child their very first pairs of shoes!


All donations are tax deductible and thank you for your support!

Church to Hold Barefoot Service

Unity Church for Positive Living in Old Hickory, TN will hold a Barefoot Sunday service at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 30 in partnership with Soles4Souls.

Participants will remove their new or gently worn footwear at the door and place them in Soles4Souls collection boxes and enter the sanctuary for the Celebration Service barefoot or in stocking feet.

The donated shoes will be furnished to Soles4Souls headquarters to be distributed. The Unity Church For Positive Living is located at 4319 Saundersville Road.

Dash Arrives in Nashville

Dashiel Alsup, has reached Nashville in his barefoot quest to walk coast-to-coast to gain support for Soles4Souls. Wayne Elsey, founder of Soles4Souls, joined the 19 year-old and walked barefoot to the Nashville Rescue Mission to donate shoes to homeless men.

"Walking barefoot from Washington to Tennessee is already an incredible achievement, and we're honored that he's been undertaking this barefoot journey on our behalf," said Wayne Elsey.

It has been 2,840 miles since Dash turned his back on a cold and lonely beach in Washington state and started walking across America. Today, he reached Nashville where Soles4Souls staff members, volunteers and members of the media finally had their chance to meet the Colorado native who took it upon himself to raise awareness and funds for Soles4Souls.

Dash and Elsey were accompanied by about 30 students from a local school, as well as other volunteers. They began at The Parthenon, walked down Broadway toward 8th Avenue and turned south until they arrived at the Nashville Rescue Mission (about 2 1/2 miles). Many of the volunteers and students also walked barefoot in support of Dash and Soles4Souls. About 500 pairs of shoes were distributed at the Rescue Mission.

After visiting Nashville for a few days, Alsup plans on continuing toward his final goal in Jacksonville, Florida, where he will have walked over 3,000 miles for Soles4Souls.

"I'm really excited to be in Nashville and spend some time with the team at Soles4Souls," he said. "I'm just happy that I can make a difference in people's lives and am looking forward to the final leg of this trip," he said.

Alsup keeps a blog of his journey at http//asinglepebble.blogspot.com.

Hope Chest and a "Good Samaritan" Receive Shoes

During the month of October, 146 pairs of men’s shoes were distributed at the Hope Chest in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Hope Chest is a ministry outreach program started by the West-Ark Church of Christ that distributes clothing and small household items at no charge to families and individuals that declare themselves in need.

Before the shoes were displayed for distribution at the Hope Chest, the first pair was delivered to a high school student who faithfully assisted his elderly neighbor. Each Monday afternoon, this young man goes immediately from his school bus stop to take the neighbor’s trash to the street for pickup. On Tuesday afternoon he gets off the bus and returns the trash container to her house.

Knowing that his neighbor had been a seamstress in her younger healthier days, he came to her in early October and asked if she could use her sewing machine to repair his tennis shoe (pictured). She knew any repairs to this shoe would need to be done by a much bigger and stronger machine than hers. Then he asked if she had a needle and thread. Together they did make an effort to repair his shoes but with no success.

The story of his needs was told to Betty Moreton, who with her husband, Ron, had traveled on behalf of C.U.R.E. to Roanoke, Alabama, to pickup the shoes from Soles4Souls. Betty immediately went to the warehouse and got new shoes for this young man. She also delivered a pair to his father and his younger brother.

The father is a roofer, fisherman and wood cutter. He too was in much need of a new pair of shoes. Both sons work with their father. New “soles” for each was deeply appreciated.

Naples Store Collecting Shoes

Clothing store lululemon athletica in Naples, FL will collect new and gently worn footwear for the month of November to benefit Soles4Souls.

The Naples store, located on 1170 Third Ave. S., is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Call 213-0506 for more information.

Annual 5K Teams with Soles4Souls

Gearing up for its 24th Great Pumpkin Run, Sacred Heart Cathedral School in Pensacola, FL is adding a new twist to its popular race. In conjunction with the 5K race and walk that raises thousands of dollars for the school each year, organizers are extending a helping hand to Soles4Souls by conducting a shoe drive.

"We thought that combining the pumpkin run and shoe drive is a perfect marriage," said Dyna Boland, a co-director for the race. "We will have a captive audience, so why not see if they can donate to this great cause."

Some of the students have already donated shoes and are asking participating runners and residents throughout the area to 'clean out their closets' and give their gently worn or new shoes to the cause. The goal is to collect about 300 pairs of footwear, which can be dropped off at the school on 1603 N. 12th Avenue or at Fitness 1 on 1, located at 4400 Bayou Blvd in Pensacola.

"Most runners tend to use their shoes for just a couple of months, and then they are just left sitting in their closets," said Sue Ehlers, a co-director of the event. "That's why we are asking for their running shoes, but we will also accept any shoes, as long as they are wearable, including flip-flops."

Billy Sadler, a Pensacola native and professional baseball player for the San Francisco Giants, stopped at the school recently during an assembly to encourage students to participate in the program.

Louis Gomez, a seventh grader who donated shoes, did not need a pep talk to get on board with the program. He knows a little something about being in need.

"I was a hurricane (Katrina) victim, we had to get a whole bunch of clothes from people," said 12-year-old Gomez, who moved to Pensacola with his family after the storm.

The Great Pumpkin Race begins at 8 am on Nov. 15th at Sacred Heart Cathedral School. Registration is $18 for adults and $12 for juniors (14 and younger). An award ceremony will follow with goodies, door prizes and pumpkin pastries baked by some runners and other organizers. For more information, call (850) 436-6440.