Note: We are collecting shoes on an ongoing basis. We are unable to leave the collection box permanently outside, so please bring shoes for donation into the store. Thank you for your participation.

Shoe Drive August 2- 8



Changing the World One Pair at a Time™

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BARE SOLE SANDALS, LLC
ANNOUNCES SHOE DRIVE TO BENEFIT
SOLES4SOULS™ Inc., THE SHOE CHARITY

 Lower Keys Residents are Asked to “STEP UP” and Clean Out their Closets and Recycle their Gently Worn Shoes

Nashville, TN – July 14, 2008 – Wayne Elsey, the Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls™ Inc., is accustomed to seeing 32,000 pairs of shoes come in and out of the charity’s warehouses each week, but the recent natural disasters in Peru, the US Midwest, Mexico have left a giant void in the Soles4Souls buildings. 

Soles4Souls is asking for your 'gently worn' shoes and/or donations to ship the shoes.  It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn 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.

“We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world one pair at a time,” Elsey said.  “We need our partners in North America and specifically The Florida Keys 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.

During the shoe drive, Bare Sole Sandals will be offering a 15% discount on shoe purchases to all customers who bring in gently worn pairs of shoes.  The shoe drive will begin on August 2 and will end on August 8.  The shoe drive coincides with the Florida State no sales tax week for back to school shopping. *

“Shoppers can take advantage of both the savings in the sales tax and 15% off of shoe purchases when they donate gently worn shoes,” says Michelle Beighley, proprietor of Bare Sole Sandals. “As a shoe retailer, it seems only appropriate to facilitate putting unused shoes to use where they are needed.” Bare Sole Sandals is located at 30313 Overseas Hwy (mile marker 30.3 bayside) in Big Pine Key, FL. The 15% discount will apply to shoe purchases excluding clearance items, jewelry and gift items.

"We are thrilled that Bare Sole Sandals is acting on our behalf to spread joy to people, both here in the United States and around the world," said Wayne Elsey, Founder of Soles4Souls.  "It is only because of proactive retail stores, such as Bare Sole Sandals, that we are able to accomplish our goal of getting shoes on the feet of people who need them most," he said.

For more information on how you can get involved with this shoe drive and take advantage of the discount toward a new pair of shoes, contact Michelle Beighley, Proprietor at (305) 872-1882.  You can also visit their website at http://www.baresolesandals.com/.

In addition, people and companies interested in donating to the effort can visit the organization’s website, www.giveshoes.org, and follow the instructions. 

About Soles4Souls

Nashville-based Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of footwear, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide.  Soles4Souls has donated more than 3 million pairs of shoes since its inception (one pair of shoes every 28 seconds).  The charity was recently featured on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate both new and "gently worn" footwear. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages.  For more information about Soles4Souls, please call (866) 521-SHOE, or visit www.giveshoes.org or www.soles4souls.org.

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For more information please contact:
Michelle Beighley, Bare Sole Sandals, LLC, (305) 872-1882, michelle@baresolesandals.com
Chris Carmichael, Soles4Souls, 615-391-5723 ext 143 chrisc@soles4souls.org
Kim Dettwiller, Soles4Souls, 615-321-4073, kimdet@comcast.net
Alexis Laken, Soles4Souls, (646) 964-5566, alexlaken@aol.com                                       
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* The State of Florida has cancelled the no sales tax week for 2008.