Familiarize Yourself

“Our mission is simple,” begins Share Your Soles‘s mission statement, “To provide gently worn shoes to those in greatest need around the world.”

Share Your Soles, which is based in Chicago, has provided shoes in such regions as Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the Middle East, and the States, to name a few. The non-profit organization was started after founder Mona Purdy traveled to Central America ten years ago and learned how many children were subject to foot amputations due to the infections they incurred by paiting tar on their bare feet as a makeshift shoe. Mona decided to collect shoes to bring back to an orphanage in Honduras. When word spread about her project, Mona’s good deed became a full-fledged organization, with shoes pouring in from all over.

Today, shoe drives are organized by groups around the country and drop-off centers can be found in over 120 locations. Over 222,500 shoes have been collected and distributed. Donated shoes are sanitized with hot water and bleach, polished, and sorted. And yes, damaged shoes (such as those with holes) are discarded. Shoes are only “given in a way that respects and honors the dignity of those who receive them”.

But I’m not writing about Share Your Soles simply because they do a great thing for people all around the world. I’m writing about them because one of my favorite local Chicago bands is playing at their fundraiser on September 5.

Check out State and Madison with The Frantic, The Get Go, The Scissors, and Dead Town Revival at Metro on Friday, Sept. 5. To get tickets at $8 a pop visit metrochicago.com