Soles4Souls Responds to Request from Angelina Jolie to Aid Victims of Pakistan Floods

Shoe charity increases its donation to 250,000 pairs of shoes for people affected by the worst flooding in 80 years

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Sep 09, 2010, 09:30 ET

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan and NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the end of July, Pakistan has been reeling from the effects of the worst flooding in 80 years. 1,760 people have died and an estimated 21 million people are affected by the disaster. Today, American actress and UNHCR spokesperson Angelina Jolie issued a plea from Pakistan to the international community and aid groups to increase their level of giving.

"This is not just a humanitarian crisis; it is an economic and social catastrophe," said Jolie in a statement. "The more support we can give, the greater number of tents, food, clean water, and medicine will get to the people in need," she said.

"We are responding to the calls for increased aid in Pakistan by donating another 50,000 pairs of shoes for people struggling to rebuild their lives after this disaster," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "We appreciate Angelina Jolie's willingness to use her celebrity to make a positive impact in the world, and sincerely hope it inspires people and other aid organizations to step up and donate cash and materials," Elsey said.

Elsey said that Soles4Souls is working with established distribution partners in the devastated regions to help Pakistanis protect themselves against injury and disease. The greatest threat to survivors of the floods is water-borne diseases such as cholera. According to Soles4Souls, a pair of sturdy shoes is essential to also greatly reduce the risk of injury and infection among broken glass, twisted metal, and raw sewage.

For more information about Soles4Souls, and to learn how to get involved with this and other initiatives around the world and in your local community, visit www.giveshoes.org.

More About Soles4Souls®

Soles4Souls collects shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute these shoes, free of charge, to people in need around the world. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away over 10 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes in 126 countries (currently distributing one pair every 7 seconds). Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.

SOURCE Soles4Souls