Whole Earth Provision Co. and Clarks Companies are teaming up with Sole4Souls Inc. to collect gently worn shoes for those in need.
Donate a pair of shoes and receive $10 off on a purchase of Clarks, Indigo, or Privo shoes. Whole Earth will be hosting the shoe drive from May 14th through May 29th.
Soles4Souls has committed to collect and distribute 11 million shoes in 2011 to people living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters through its “11 in 11” campaign. The shoe charity provides one pair of shoes to a person in need every seven seconds. Since 2005, Tennessee-based Soles4Souls has distributed more than 13 million pairs of shoes, and just this month partnered with the National Basketball Association to provide new sneakers to victims of tornadoes in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. “With tragedies such as the earthquakes in countries like Haiti and Japan, on top of the enormous needs elsewhere, we can use the estimated 1.5 billion shoes taking up space in the closets of ordinary people to change the world one pair at a time,” said founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Wayne Elsey. “We need partners like Clarks and Whole Earth Provision Co. to get behind our “11 in 11″ campaign and get a little crazy this year. Donating shoes is one of the most simple yet profound acts you can do, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times.”
People and companies interested in donating can visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org.
This article appears in May 6 • 2011.