Sunday, September 27, 2009

Sports Chalet and Soles4Souls collecting shoes for the needy

Every 9 seconds, Soles4Souls, Inc. gives away another pair of shoes to someone in need. The shoe charity has earned glowing endorsements from Hollywood stars and professional athletes, but the people that truly make the non-profit organization effective are those who clean out their closets to personally drop off their ‘gently worn’ shoes.

Soles4Souls and Sport Chalet will be collecting your gently worn footwear to ship the shoes to a person in need, whether they are victims of a natural disaster or subject to living in extreme poverty. It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes lying in their closets. The charity can use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone's life. In return for donating a pair of gently worn shoes, Sport Chalet will give you a 20% off coupon good for a new pair of shoes during their event!

“We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.

“We need more partners like Sport Chalet to 'STEP UP' and get behind our call for action. It’s one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times,” he said.

“With the current economic conditions, we find that now, more than ever, is the time to partner with organizations like Soles4Souls and give back to those in need,” said Craig Levra, Chairman and CEO of Sport Chalet.

“Our goal is to reach out and engage our most loyal customers to make this more than a rewarding experience for all. We encourage everyone to visit any of the 55 Sport Chalet retail locations throughout California, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Each store will have drop off baskets and special offers for those who bring in their gently worn shoes during the Soles4Souls event,” he said.

Visit our website www.sportschalet.com for a store near you.

People and companies interested in donating can visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org, and follow the instructions.

About Soles4Souls®
Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes free of charge to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 5.5 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently donating one pair every 9 seconds.) The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner's World, Ladies’ Home Journal, National Geographic’s Green Guide and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

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