Murphys, CA….Attention anyone with a closet: Those shoes you no longer want are desperately needed to fight the human tragedy of global poverty. That’s the message being delivered by local service group Angels-Murphys Rotary Club, which in September, launched their fifth annual drive to collect 1000 pairs of shoes to help the poor. Used and new shoes were dropped off at local schools, grocery stores and businesses all over Angels Camp and Murphys.

The shoes that Angels-Murphys Rotary Club collected were packed up on October 22 at Milliaire Winery and are being delivered to Soles4Souls, an international anti-poverty organization that monetizes used shoes and clothing to create sustainable jobs and fund direct relief efforts, including distribution of new shoes and clothing. Founded in 2006, the organization has distributed more than 26 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries.

“Angels-Murphys Rotary Club is supporting Soles4Souls because it is the definition of a social enterprise where solid business practices are used to create positive change in people’s lives,” said Elizabeth Armstrong, International Chair for the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club. “Rotary is a strong supporter of Soles4Souls’ anti-poverty mission, and we hope to take a big step in providing the organization with the used shoes they require to keep making a difference for people in need.”

Soles4Souls – which holds the highest rating from nonprofit watchdog Charity Navigator — will convert every used pair of shoes collected from the community into a value-added social currency to achieve positive change, both humanitarian and economic. Most of the reusable shoes will be distributed to microenterprise programs that create jobs in Haiti and other poor nations. The resulting revenue will help fund the free distribution of new shoes in the U.S. and overseas. Among its relief programs, the organization has distributed over 200,000 new pairs of shoes to help Philippine victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

The connection between poverty and shoes is well documented. The World Bank estimates that approximately 400 million children worldwide – more than the entire U.S. population – live in pronounced poverty.  Millions of these children will grow up never having had a pair of shoes, resulting in significant ramifications for their health and wellbeing.  Lacking proper footwear, countless children will not be able or permitted to attend school.  And tens of millions of these poverty-stricken, barefoot boys and girls will be infected with soil-transmitted parasitic diseases like hookworm, causing lasting suffering and lifelong debilitation. 

“The simple truth is that almost anyone with a closet has shoes they don’t wear, or an old pair that will just end up in a landfill,” said Angels-Murphys Rotary Club President Sam Matyas. “Give those to us, and know that you are taking a step to making the world a better place for all of us.”

Angels-Murphys Rotary Club used shoe drive for Soles4Souls information
SHOE PACKING EVENT was held at Milliaire Winery, 3300 Murphys Grade Rd., Murphys on Thursday October 22nd from 11:30 am to approximately 1 PM. With the help of Liz and Steve Millier (owners of the winery), and Bret Harte High School Interact Club members, Rotary collected and packed 3 pallets of shoes, or approximately 1,000 pairs – our best result ever.
Photos of shoe packing event attached.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Armstrong at 209 743-7476, Lstrong1@comcast.net

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About Angels-Murphys Rotary Club
Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs in 160 countries.

Rotarians are just ordinary people doing extraordinary things by working together. It’s the original social network for good. Our motto is “Service Above Self”. The Angels-Murphys Rotary Club was founded in 1980 and meets Thursdays at noon at the Murphys Historic Hotel. Call (209) 743-9176 prior to the meeting if you require disabled access. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1221, Murphys CA 95247. www.angelsmurphysrotary.org

About Soles4Souls®
Soles4Souls is a not for profit global social enterprise committed to fighting the devastating impact and perpetuation of poverty.  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.  Since it began, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 26 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Soles4Souls is committed to the highest standards of operating and governance, and holds a four-star rating with Charity Navigator.  Please visit www.soles4souls.org for more information.