Soles4Souls(TM) Inc, the Shoe Charity, Sends 30,000 Pairs of Shoes to be Distributed to Victims of Hurricane Ike

Soles4Souls(TM) Inc., the international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to those in desperate need, announced today it has sent 30,000 pairs of shoes to a staging area in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and will distribute them to victims of Hurricane Ike early next week.

Ike is expected to make landfall in the Galveston, Texas area by late Friday evening or early Saturday and continue on toward Houston. Weather forecasters have issued strong warnings to residents along the Texas Gulf Coast, while federal officials have been far more blunt. "Persons not heeding evacuation orders in single-family, one- or two-story homes will face certain death," said officials with the National Weather Service.

Soles4Souls is partnering with Feed the Children to send the footwear and other supplies to residents affected by the storm. "With natural disasters like this, a person's home and all their possessions can be completely wiped away," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "It's critical to have all necessary supplies available to people so they can begin the rebuilding process as soon as possible," he said.

Soles4Souls donates new and gently worn shoes to victims of natural disasters and people living in extreme poverty. Elsey said that they have already shipped the 30,000 pairs of shoes and are seeking footwear companies and retailers that can donate excess inventory or returns so that they will have enough for the demand.

"This has already been a terribly busy hurricane season," Elsey said. "Along with other emergency supplies, a pair of new shoes or boots goes a long way to helping people get back on their feet and piece their lives back together. We need all our partners and donors to join us in our mission to help those affected by this storm," he said.

Those interested in giving shoes or donating cash to benefit victims of the hurricane can join Soles4Souls by visiting http://www.giveshoes.org or calling 615-391-5723. Donors can also apply for a free Soles4Souls credit card, which will give the charity a $50 donation.

About Soles4Souls

Nashville-based Soles4Souls(TM) facilitates the donations of both new and used shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Since its inception, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 3.4 million pairs (or one pair every 23 seconds) to people in more than 60 countries, including Honduras, Romania, Thailand, and the Sudan. The charity has been featured on CNN Headline News, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, ABC News, FOX, CBS, and hundreds of regional outlets around North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS; donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit http://www.giveshoes.org for more information.