Soles4Souls 'Barefoot Week' Spurs Global Action

Weeklong Event to Include Shoe Collections, Distributions and a Day of No Shoes

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Oct 07, 2016, 08:00 ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 7, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Soles4Souls is continuing its fight against poverty with the kickoff of its annual Barefoot Week campaign. The weeklong event, which begins Oct. 9, will include shoe collections and distributions and will end with thousands of people across the nation pledging to go Barefoot4Them on Oct. 14.

Soles4Souls, a not for profit global social enterprise that's committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing, is partnering with faith leaders and footwear retailers for this year's campaign.

"Barefoot Week is the perfect way to celebrate our mission and our ten-year anniversary," says Soles4Souls' president and CEO Buddy Teaster. "Since 2006, we have partnered with volunteers to collect used shoes to benefit entrepreneurs in developing nations, partnered with retailers to provide new shoes to those in need here and around the world, and worked with volunteers to help raise awareness. All is being reflected in this annual Barefoot Week event."

To celebrate the kickoff of Barefoot Week, participating churches will challenge members of their congregation to donate the shoes they wear to service on Sunday, Oct. 9 and leave barefoot as a gesture of good will. All Barefoot Sunday donations will be collected and used to support the organization's micro-enterprise programs, which create jobs and personal income in impoverished nations like Haiti, Honduras and Moldova.

From Oct. 10 - 13, S4S will work with partner shelters across the nation to provide free shoes to men and women in need. Cities and dates are as follows:

October 10 – Los Angeles, CA.
October 11 – Nashville, Tenn.
October 13 – Boston, Mass. and New York, N.Y.

Barefoot Week will culminate on Friday, Oct. 14 with the organization's fifth annual Barefoot4Them — a day when the public is encouraged to go barefoot in order to raise awareness for the millions around the world who live without proper footwear.

Those who participate are encouraged to post a picture of themselves going barefoot on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms with the hash tag #Barefoot4Them.

For more information on Barefoot Sunday, visit www.soles4souls.org/barefoot-sunday. To pledge to go Barefoot4Them, visit: www.Barefoot4Them.org.

About Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is a not for profit global social enterprise committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing. The organization advances its anti-poverty mission by collecting new and used shoes and clothes from individuals, schools, faith- based institutions, civic organizations and corporate partners, then distributing those shoes and clothes both via direct donations to people in need and by provisioning qualified micro-enterprise programs designed to create jobs in poor and disadvantaged communities. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is committed to the highest standards of operating and governance, and holds a four-star rating with Charity Navigator. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.

SOURCE Soles4Souls