The Soles4Souls project is a non-profit organization committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothes.
The organization accomplishes its mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothing from schools, individuals, faith-based institutions and corporate partners. It then distributes the clothing and shoes through donations and micro-enterprises designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities.
Soles4Souls is committed to upholding standards of operating and governance, and holds a four star rating with Charity Navigator. The national project was founded as a disaster relief organization after philanthropists and shoe executives provided shoes to the people that were most impacted by the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The University of Alabama chapter was founded in spring 2014. The organization’s main focus is on the distribution of shoes to children. Many children around the world are in need of the items donated to the project, and most of those children must have shoes in order to attend school. Sole4Souls give those particular children the opportunity to stay on track in school and not fall behind.
The chapter also provides shoes and clothing to people living in developing countries. In many parts of the world, walking is the main source of transportation. This causes millions of people every day to face the danger of cuts, fungus, contaminated soil and insect binds that can lead to major health issues. A sturdy pair of shoes could help solve this issue.
“My favorite part of the project is that we get to donate shoes internationally as well as nationally,” said Regan Woodham, founder and current treasurer of the UA chapter of Soul4Soles and a senior majoring in nursing. “We get the opportunity to help people that we don’t always get to see. They become more than just those people we see on television.”
Since 2006, Soles4Souls has collected and distributed 26 million pairs of shoes to people in desperate need in over 100 countries across the world and in all 50 of the United States.
The UA chapter of Soles4Souls hosts at least one shoe drive a semester. During the drive it collects the donated items and take them to a local donation center. During the drive last fall it placed donation bins in all of the residence halls and sorority houses. It then donated over 500 pairs of shoes to people in need. This semester, the organization is set for another shoe drive and is also in the process of planning a 5k event. Students with an interest in social media, event planning, fundraising and nonprofits, and helping others are encouraged to get involved with Soles4Souls.
There is a $10 membership fee to join the Soles4Souls at the University. It holds annual meetings twice a month. There are also many other ways students can get involved outside of membership. Students can help out by simplify donating a pair of old shoes or clothing to the upcoming drive. Those interested in joining the organization should contact the chapter’s president, Nicole Gabehart, via e-mail at [email protected].
