We're Moving!!!

We've experienced tremendous growth & changes over the past few months. One area of focus that has experienced improvement is our social media outlets. Our purpose in making these changes is to engage people in new ways, ultimately enabling more people to get involved with our mission.

With that said, we're excited to announce that the Soles4Souls Blog officially has a new home:

www.soles4souls.org/blog

From now on, our blog will be updated from the new site. We hope that you will continue to follow the new blog for updates & stories. You can subscribe to the blog by clicking here.

10,000 Shoes on your Doorstep

     Most people have closets cluttered with a far-too-many shoes. Now imagine having thousands of used shoes arrive at your house daily. That's what happens at one of the four Soles4Souls collection centers. Allan and I visited the Las Vegas warehouse to drop off some donated shoes people had given us It's amazing how often people see the Soles4Souls RV and motion us to pull over so they can give us used shoes from the trunk of their car! They always say, "I've had these shoes in my car for several weeks and didn't know what to do with them."

While dropping off the shoes, we met the friendly warehouse staff and volunteers who manage the thousands of shoes arriving on a daily basis. These guys are very efficient, so keep those shoes coming!
                                                                                         -Silvana

The Soles4Souls RV is making its way across the country as a part of The Great American Shoe Drive. Allen & Silvana Clark have been traveling the country distributing shoes & promoting our cause. Next week, the RV makes its way to Los Angeles to collect & distribute shoes.

Photo of the Week

48 orphaned Haitian children and only one pair of plastic slippers. These are the feet of children who lost everything in the earthquake, including their home and their schoolhouse. Being able to put new shoes on their feet was an experience unlike any other.
It was hard to tell who was more blessed by the shoe distributions were doing: the children or the Soles4Souls team?

Motorcycle Boots & JellyPops

     The Soles4Souls RV is making its way across the country as a part of The Great American Shoe Drive. Allen & Silvana Clark have been traveling the country distributing shoes & promoting our cause. This week, Silvana shares stories from last week's distribution in Salt Lake City:

     The statistics are horrifying. It is estimated that 50% of deaf women are sexually abused. The Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf (SLCAD) is an advocacy agency designed to meet the specific needs of Deaf, Deaf/Blind and Hard of Hearing victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Salt Lake City. Allan and I were privileged to be able to give this agency high-quality, new shoes. Last week, our distribution at the refugee center was very loud with people speaking in their native languages to each other from one side of the room to another.
    
 Our distribution at the Community Center for the Deaf was a bit on the quite side as people used their hands to sign to each other. With the help of two interpreters we were able to fit men, women and children with shoes. Most of the participants are on SSI or live off Social Security checks and can seldom afford new shoes. We had the best time matching shoes to each person’s “personality”.

      One woman entered the room with spunk and energy and left with a pair of sparkling pink shoes. Another woman had a job where she needed dressier shoes, but couldn’t afford to buy a pair. The slip-on shoes donated by JellyPops were perfect for her.

   Then of course was the thrill of finding a pair of shoes for a deaf Harley Rider!

   We were able to acquire the Olympic torch from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It was neat to see peoples faces light up when they got to hold the torch.

     Later, a staff member commented that she had never seen so many people smiling and walking with a new “spring” in their step.

     “You gave our clients something special,” she told us. What more could we ask for?

                                            -Silvana

Our Next Stop: Los Angeles

- Check out The Great American Shoe Drive Map for the complete list of the cities, dates & event details.
-  Follow the tour on Twitter & use the hashtag #giveshoes when you make a donation.
- Tell us about your Great American Shoe Drive experience.

Wahoo Runs for Soles

     We love to hear stories from people who are changing the world one pair at a time.  We recently worked with college athlete Erin Curran who wanted to combine her passion for running with making a difference in the world.  
   
     Erin is a cross country and track & field athlete at Black Hills State University, where she will begin her sophomore year in the fall. This summer, Erin wanted to coordinate a road race in her community and thought that it would be fun to incorporate some sort of cause. She then decided that participants could have the option of donating shoes for people in need. Erin chose to make the race a shoe drive for Soles4Souls. Finally, Wahoo’s Shoes for the Sole Run/Walk event was born!

     We thought it would be interesting to ask Erin some questions about her shoe drive experience...

Q. When you first began organizing the 5k, why did you choose partner with Soles4Souls?
A. When I first began planning this event, I was unsure of where to send the shoes. I did some research and found that Soles4Souls distributed shoes around the world and also to places here in the United States. Their mission was inspiring and made me want to join the cause!

Q. How did you get other people involved in your shoe drive? How did you promote your event?
A. Promotion was a key factor. I put up flyers, advertised the event in the local newspaper, created a Wahoo Running Facebook page, and asked area businesses for their support. The community was very receptive, which was apparent by the number of shoes collected.

Q. What has been the best part about your experience?
A,  The best part of my experience was seeing the event come to fruition. It was hard work putting on the road race. However, watching the participants truly enjoy themselves at the event, and looking on as the pile of shoes grew larger, more than made up for the stresses and work. The happiness I felt was overwhelming!

Q. Any interesting or funny stories that involve collecting shoes?
A. Participants who gave shoes at the Shoes for the Sole Run/Walk were put into a drawing to win one of two gift certificates to Lincoln Running Co., a specialty running store in Lincoln, Nebraska. When we called off one of the names, a tiny, five-year-old girl came to the front to claim her prize! It was adorable and refreshing to see that someone so small is making a difference in the world around her.

Q. If you could give one piece of advice for someone who was wanting to host a shoe drive, what would you say?
A. If a person is thinking about hosting a shoe drive I would tell them to take action! Don’t be afraid to ask for help or of a low success rate. After all, in the words of Soles4Souls, it’s about “changing the world one pair at a time.”

We're extremely grateful for people, like Erin, who are passionate about changing lives by giving the gift of shoes.

If you have a story from your shoe drive, share it with us!

 Become a part of our Facebook family & share your story or email us.

Photo of the Week: D.C. kids get new shoes

     Sondra Clark, a spokesperson for Soles4Souls, headed up an all-day shoe distribution with the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington DC. Almost 3,500 children participated in creating inventions for fun and prizes.

     Sondra,  organized the distribution and helped the volunteers understand the noise level that all those kids create! During the event, we were able to give the gift of new shoes to many children as they head back to school.

Guest Post: Villicana Family Lemon Drop

I'm a Mother, Wife, Photographer, Blogger, Activist and Big Time Dreamer.

I had the great fortune of starting a tradition of annual volunteerism with my 

two young sons last summer.

A friend of mine was walking in the Susan G.Komen 3 Day Walk for Breast Cancer and I decided that I wanted to do something to help her meet her fundraising goal. My sons, then five and two years old, helped me collect unwanted goods from friends and family and in turn,sell them at a garage sale; with all proceeds going directly to the Susan G.Komen Organization.

(Please see attached links for details from last summers event.)

Super Summer Garage Sale!

Garage Sale Highlights

Due to the success of the garage sale and the immense gratitude evoked in both my children and myself, I knew that this act of selfless volunteerism had to become a yearly event.

When thinking about which charity we would donate to this year, Soles4Souls was quick to come to mind. I had seen a televised segment last year about the work that Soles4Souls was doing in Haiti soon after the earthquake and was greatly moved. I thought that the idea of collecting and redistributing shoes was both ideal and age appropriate for my young sons. While searching the Soles4Souls website for ways to volunteer, I found the link for the Lemons To Aid program. 

A few clicks of the keyboard and a confirmation email later, we were signed up to host a Lemon Drop; the collaborative fund raising program created by Soles4Souls and Lemons To Aid.

The more that I thought about our family Lemon Drop, the more I knew that I wanted to push the boundaries and try to make the event bigger and better than the previous years event. I made a list of the items and qualities that I would have in an ideal Lemon Drop, and then I picked up the phone.

I called the director of our local Farmers Market in Vista California, and proposed the idea of holding the Lemon Drop at the market on a busy Saturday morning. I was thrilled to be told that "Yes!", not only was it possible but that it was welcomed.

I called for lemonade donations and within days, the call for donation was answered by

 Hot Dog On A Stick, who will be providing us with all of the lemonade for our event.

Lemon Meringue Pies have been donated by the legendary Mama Kat's restaurant.

A local musician, Derek Evans, has decided to spend that Saturday morning alongside the rest of us, in a selfless collaboration for shoes and donations.

Promotional signs and flyers have been donated by Hutchins Printing.

Balloons, Lemon Poppyseed Muffins, the list goes on and on...

And the excitement grows.

In addition to the behind the scenes work that I have been doing to orchestrate this event, my boys have been working quite hard in preparation as well.

There is a lot more to come from us, plenty of surprises waiting to be revealed the morning of the Lemon Drop

 Saturday August 21,2010.

Photo by: Corey Villicana

If you happen to be in the San Diego area that morning, 

please come by for a slice of lemon pie and a quick hello.

If you don't happen to be anywhere near the San Diego area that morning, please keep us and our Lemon Drop in your thoughts.

Photo by: Corey Villicana

At the end of the day, I hope to set an example for my children that hard work and volunteerism do go noticed. I want them to be living proof that every single person's contribution does help and that the very  smallest of children can make the very biggest of change. 

Photo by: Corey Villicana

I truly believe that every human being has the capability to accomplish anything that they put their mind to.

Photo by: Corey Villicana

For more about Corey Villicana and her Life With Little Ones, please visit her blog: Life With Little Ones

Live from Salt Lake City

The Soles4Souls RV is making its way across the country as a part of The Great American Shoe Drive. Allen & Silvana Clark have been traveling the country distrubuting shoes & promoting our cause. This week, they kicked off the 22 city tour in Salt Lake City:

The Great American Shoe Drive began with an around-the-world kick-off with a shoe distribution at the International Rescue Committee in Salt Lake City. A long line of refugees waited patiently in line for new shoes.
In Salt Lake City, the IRC helps them rebuild their lives.

Our youngest (and cutest!) volunteer at the distribution was this nine year old girl. She and her mother fled from Eritrea (close to Ethiopia) and then lived for years in a resettlement camp before arriving in Salt Lake a month ago. I loved her enthusiasm and desire to learn English as she helped us set up the shoes. She arrived wearing stiff, ill-fitting shoes and was thrilled to get some sparkly pink sneakers that fit!

We also found the perfect pair of shoes for a gentleman with only one arm who has difficulty tying shoes. Even though we didn't speak the same language as the refugees, their universal smiles told us how happy they were to get new shoes.

- Silvana

• Stay Tuned! We will continue to share stories from The Great American Shoe Drive as they make their way through 22 cities to impact thousands of lives.
• Follow the Soles4Souls RV Tour on twitter for updates about The Great American Shoe Drive and where the RV is heading next.

What makes America great?

   You could probably formulate 1,000 different responses to this question. Here at Soles4Souls, we are frequently reminded of one attribute that makes America great...Generosity.  

   Time and time again we've seen Americans step up and act generously to meet a need. Just this year, we've had major natural disasters both internationally and locally. In both cases, people have risen to the occasion. We are constantly inspired by stories of people who have used their abilities and resources to impact the lives of others.

   With that said, we're excited to announce our partnership with Footwear News to give you the opportunity to show your generosity once again...

106 days. 22 cities. 6,000 miles. Thousands of lives changed.

The Great American Shoe Drive is a cross-country tour that lets you to meet the needs of people in your community. All of the shoes that are donated are redistributed locally.

 

   We kicked off the drive this week in Salt Lake City at the Outdoor Retailer Show where we will be collecting gently used shoes. The shoes will then be distributed to the Sego Lily Center for the Abused Deaf. 

   Next week we're headed to Las Vegas to collect shoes WSA Show & FN Platform Show.

Want more info?

- Check out  The Great American Shoe Drive Map for the complete list of the cities, dates & event  details.
- Follow the tour on Twitter & use the hashtag #giveshoes when you make a donation.
- Tell us about your Great American Shoe Drive experience

What are some other things that make America great?

100,000 Pairs to Pakistan

Pakistan is a nation on the brink of several types of disaster. Monsoon rains have devastated its troubled northwest region near Peshawar, causing major flooding.

Here are some facts about the severity of the damage:

• The flood has taken the lives of over 1,500 people
• Over 1 Million people have been displaced from their homes
• The U.N. Children’s Fund estimates that 100,000 children are suddenly at risk of infection of cholera and gastro diseases, largely preventable with a decent pair of shoes.

We believe that this disaster becomes a call to action. Soles4Souls is dedicated to sending 100,000 pairs of new and gently worn shoes to Pakistan, but we need your help to make this happen.

How Can You Help?

1. Donate shoes - Find a drop off location near you or host a shoe drive for those affected in Pakistan.
2. Donate Funds -  We need monetary donations to help ship and distribute the shoes to those in Pakistan who need them most. For every $1 you donate, we will be able to provide a person with a pair of shoes.
3. Spread the word - Tell your friends how to get involved. Whether they are from your church, school, neighborhood or Facebook.

Soles4Souls has always provided aid where it is needed, regardless of political, religious, ethnic or any other criteria. Will you help us reach out to our Pakistani friends and show them that we care about their families?

Photo of the Week

We visited an orphanage on one of our recent Haiti trips. Children who had lost practically everything were given a new pair of shoes. As we walked through the orphanage, this little boy's smile captivated us. 

Photo of the Week

On July 7th, a Soles4Souls team of 14 volunteers and staff traveled to Port-au-Prince Haiti to distribute shoes to almost 2,000 children and adults living in extremely difficult circumstances since the earthquake in January. When time allowed, we washed the children's feet as a way to say "we care about you."

Highlights from Barefoot Open House

We had a great turnout at our Barefoot Open House this week! We're thankful for all of our partners and supporters who took time to stop by and check out our new place. Here are a few photos from the event.

Trevett McCandliss from Footwear Plus Magazine with Soles4Souls employees Elizabeth and Isabelle. Trevett designed the shoe that was featured on the cover of our Five Year Anniversary Publication.

Bethani Hemphill adds another pin to our map of shoe distribution locations. She and Shaun Daugherty recently returned from a distribution trip in American Samoa.

Founder, Wayne Elsey entertains our partners from Cole Haan 

Thanks to Barefoot Wine for sponsoring the event and thanks to everyone who stopped by to see our new headquarters!

Letters from Haiti

Dear friends,
     The goal of my letter is to thank you for the shoes that you brought for us.
     I want to say thank you for the shoes that you brought for us and for helping measure us for the shoes. The shoes are magnificent, marvelous, and we are proud of you. You gave us shoes and you brought them all the way here. It is for that, that we wish to thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you again for all you have done. I cannot find the words I must use to thank you.
   I hope you have a good year.
                             Your friend,

                             Josué

Subject: A thank you

From: Samuel

To: My friends

Very dear friends,

     Hello. Today I write you just to thank you for your good deeds toward me.
     My friends, I thank you a lot for having thought of me; even if I spend all year thanking you, it would not be sufficient to repay you. So I can only say thank you and thank you.
     And thanks be to God. That is all.

These are just a couple of the letters we received. The children were so grateful for the shoes and our lives were forever impacted by their stories, smiles, and love.

Will you join us in changing the world one pair at a time?

Want to see more pictures from our Haiti distribution or get more information about ways to help?

Poverty, Homelessness, & Hope - A Recap from Our Haiti Distribution Trip

     Every day I receive questions about the Soles4Souls distribution trips and impact they have on my life. The emotions from each trip are different, personal, and, at times, hard to express.

     My job as Experiential Manager at Soles4Souls is to plan distribution trips all over the world for volunteers to join our team and help those in need. I have traveled on numerous mission/humanitarian trips and anyone that has traveled on a mission trip understands the emotional impact each trip has on your life. My job is to allow others to experience a truly indescribable experience. It is something that one has to see first-hand to ultimately understand the feelings and emotions.

      As we flew back from Haiti on Sunday, I listened to our volunteers share their experiences with others on our plane. I started to cry. All 14 individuals on our team represented different states of America including: California, Tennessee, Alabama, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Texas. Strangers became family and formed friendships that will last forever. I listened to our volunteers tell unique stories of individual children receiving shoes. In Haitian schools, children are required to wear a uniform and shoes. We saw a little girl that had two right shoes on, another with two different shoes, and numerous pair with shoes that were entirely too small. Most of the shoes were so old that they were falling apart. These children were so thankful and could not believe they were getting NEW SHOES!

     I’ve seen poverty all over the world and it is very easy to feel hopeless even while striving to make a difference. I’ve seen the rubble, homelessness, and starvation. As I heard the volunteers share I was reminded of HOPE. I listened and remembered the children’s faces in their stories. From this trip I realized that as we give the gift of shoes, these children give us much more. Our participants’ lives are forever changed from a simple act of kindness.

S4S + Bebe = $25 OFF

It's a simple equation. Soles4Souls is partnering with Bebe to offer a spectacular deal while giving you the opportunity to help others.

Join us on July 16th from 5-8pm at Bebe in Green Hills Mall in

Nashville, TN for an evening of shopping 

benefiting our newest division, Clothes4Souls.

Here is what you need to do. Bring in a pair of used jeans and Bebe will return the favor by giving you $25 OFF a new pair of jeans!

Join us for a night of fun and shopping & stay tuned for future partnerships that will help us to continue to change the world one pair at a time!

This event is all part of a nationwide partnership that begins July 15th and lasts until July 31st!

Two Men Inspired to Make a Difference

Mete Pete Johnson and Chris Lockhart.  These two men have discovered a passion for helping others by using the resources provided to them by Soles4Souls and their connection with the Florida based organization called REHOPE.

[ME]: What inspired you to travel to Colombia to give shoes to children in need?

[Chris and Pete]: A long time friend had been working with kids she had taken off the streets of Bogota, or would have soon ended up there.  Knowing this, and being at a point in our lives where we felt like it was time to give back to others, created our desire to help the kids.    

[ME]: Did you travel with an organization or was this something that you chose to do on your own? 

[Chris and Pete]: We started out on our own and over time we connected with REHOPE, who we are currently working with.  REHOPE has all the groundwork in place to make a difference but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done and money to be raised.

[ME]: How long were you in Colombia?

[Chris and Pete]: We have made several different trips, each trip being only a few days long. We have so far spent 26 total days in Columbia and have carried in over 1,200 lbs of shoes and clothing.

[ME]: How many pairs of shoes did you give away? 

[Chris and Pete]: Approximately 300 pairs so far.  We did not start working with Soles4Souls until the last 100 pairs, but with the quality of the shoes we received, and ease of working with Soles4Souls we wish we had started the partnership earlier.   We hope to deliver many more pairs in the future as we develop more outlets in Bogota, and as the orphanages we are currently working with grow. 

[ME]: How did you select the children that you give shoes to? 

[Chris and Pete]: REHOPE has several foundations and orphanages they work with that have children in need.   They also work with community leaders and church pastors to reach out to families that are less fortunate. 

[ME]: How do you think that the people you gave shoes to will be affected by your donation? 

[Chris and Pete]: Most of the children did not have quality shoes and some had no shoes at all.  With shoes no longer being a pressing need, the foundations we are working with in turn can focus on other needs such as food and shelter. More importantly, by giving the children shoes an instant bond is created. The hope and feeling that someone cares for them long outlasts the pair of shoes.

[ME]: What was the most moving experience of the trip? 

[Chris and Pete]: We enjoyed seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces.   They were truly impressed that we would come from North America to bring them shoes.  These kids get little attention so being given shoes was a great blessing to them. 

[ME]: What did you gain personally from going on this trip? 

[Chris and Pete]: Lifelong friendships and bonds are made with each trip we make. The heartfelt gratitude and appreciation we receive is very rewarding. It is nice to know that something that cost us so little can mean so much to others.  Also, it is hard to convey – but there is a perspective that one comes away with that is invaluable.  There was a true joy experienced in the trip that one has to witness on their own. 

[ME]: Would you consider going on another trip? 

[Chris and Pete]: Absolutely!  We will be returning to Columbia in August, and plan on visiting as much as our schedule and resources allow.  We are excited that Soles4Souls is branching out to distribute clothing in the future as well.

[ME]: Will you encourage others to go on trips, either with SoleSoles4Soulsouls or on their own? 

[Chris and Pete]: Yes. We feel we can do more by spreading the word about Soles4Souls, and REHOPE within the flight department at FedEx.  Many pilots and dispatchers have already given donations or helped to carry in supplies.  There are many opportunities that go beyond shoes, yet shoes are very much needed.  It is our goal to reach out to other airline employees, provide information, and give them the opportunity to give back, as well as experience the joy that we have experienced.

More Information About the Two Men and REHOPE

Pete Johnson worked in the transportation industry for many years, giving him the opportunity to travel.  He has been to many destinations, yet was looking for someplace new to go while helping others at the same time.  Traveling to Bogota was a stark contrast to what would be considered more popular destinations, yet in many ways was incredibly much more fun and fulfilling.   He has discovered an excellent way to reach those in need, while having a great time.  At the same time being very much appreciated by the recipients of the shoes and clothing we have brought those in need.  It takes little in a third world county to make a difference.

Chris Lockhart feels called to do more to help others based off of events that have happened in his life.  Inspired by his friend, Pete Johnson, and the work he was doing in Bogota, Chris gained the courage to leave his comfort zone and  go out to try and make a difference in the world.  Having travel benefits because of his job, he was fully capable of fulfilling his calling to help others.  And with a passion for photography, he has captured moments that he hopes will show others the many needs in the world and like him, they too will be inspired.

REHOPE was started based off of the vision of helping children in Colombia. It all started in December 2006 when members from the church of Abatel located in Tampa, Florida and FedEx employees collected food, clothing and money for these children in need. We began by periodically sending donations to programs that serve children in several countries. Our vision is to impact the lives of 400 neglected children and young adults that are homeless, abandoned in the streets and living in forgotten environments by providing them with food, education, health care, guidance, love and a home in the outskirts of Bogotá Colombia.   Please see http://rehopefoundation.org/  or e-mail pete.johnson72@yahoo.com for more information.  

Be Inspired

As a group from Soles4Souls boards their plane to Haiti today, they all have different intentions.  Some are going for the first time and looking to gain a first-hand account of Haiti’s situation, some are going to capture the roller coaster of emotions in Haiti on film, some are going to simply help others, but all in all, everyone is going to help rebuild the spirits of the people in this destructed country by providing them with shoes.  For Katie, who is in charge of planning all of the Soles4Souls trips, her hope is that people will truly see what a pair of shoes can do for someone’s life.  We will be keeping you all updated about their trip via our twitter @Soles4Souls and have hopes that in some way, you will be touched by what this group of people are doing.  Maybe, just maybe, you too will want to join Soles4Souls on a life-changing trip. 

Kid's Prove That Age Doesn't Matter When Helping Others

Students at Long Valley Middle School in Long Valley, New Jersey have collected over 1,500 pairs of shoes in the past year.  Awesome!  That is 1,500 people  who might avoid contracting deadly diseases, who might have the possibility of getting a job, who might now be able to attend school, and whose lives might now be saved.  

Our Guide to the Best 4th of July Weekend

The Soles4Souls guide to having a great 4th of July weekend:

           

Shop: Remember that you can donate $1 when you shop at Finish Line and receive 30% off at Puma when you take in a pair of shoes to donate to Soles4Souls.

Be Outdoors:  Play a game of flag football with the family.  Or horseshoes.  And 4 Square is always a fun playground favorite to play with the little ones. 

Snap Photos: If your outside digging your toes in the sand or running your feet through the grass, snap a photo.  We love seeing our fans go barefoot to honor those who don't have shoes. 

Eat Delicious Food:  Get creative when grilling out this weekend.  Serve your hamburger like this:

designed by Olle Hemmendorff of Sweden

 or if you want to go for something a tad more simple, how about foot long hot dogs. And every burger needs to be complimented with fries, so how about these Shoe-String Fries.  And for dessert test out this recipe for Shoestring Potato Cookies

1 (12-ounce) package butterscotch flavored chips

3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 

4 ounces shoestring potatoes (approximately 1/2 of a 9-ounce can) 

1 cup raisins

 1.  Melt butterscotch chips and peanut butter in a medium saucepan over low heat.

2.  Meanwhile place shoestring potatoes in a mixing bowl. Pour butterscotch chip mixture over shoestring potatoes. Add raisins. Mix gently until combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto wax paper. Chill until firm. Makes 20 cookies.

Turn Up the Music: Purchase AJ Jansens' single, Bars, Scars, and Old Guitars.  All proceeds go to Soles4Souls.  Check out the song Erasable by The Carter Twins, as they are huge supporters of Soles4Souls.  

Relax:  Everyone should take great care of their feet.  Treat yourself to a foot massage.

And most importantly, follow @WayneElsey on Twitter