Soles4Souls

I just love what you doing and never stop it..In December we going to get our first batch of consignment.

My Life changing experience with Soles 4 Souls took place in June 2017. The group I worked with, traveled with and volunteered with became a family to me. The experience in the Dominican Republic was one I will never forget. It opened up a whole new world for me and one I am so thankful for. It was more than about giving shoes though, it was about the smiles on their faces and the time we spent with them. Soles 4 Souls gave this to me and for that reason, I can't thank them enough. Time has passed but I still want to give back. This trip was the starting point for me in terms of the work I still do with them and many other organizations where I live. I owe it all to my family and friends from Soles 4 Souls.

I first traveled with S4S around six years ago on a trip to Haiti with my two teenage children. We had an amazing experience and it opened our eyes to the challenges and joys of individuals living in Haiti. A couple years ago I stated volunteering collecting and warehousing shoes. I enjoy being a part of this organization for many reasons. While everyone needs help sometimes I think it is important to create programs that help people to help themselves. That is why the S4S micro enterprise programs are so significant. I can't say enough wonderful things about the staff who all seem to truly love their jobs and the outstanding service they provide.

It will be one year next month that Soles4Souls entered my life and there hasn’t been a day since that I don’t talk about S4S! Having won a DSW shoe distribution trip to Jamaica with S4S I experienced the work they are doing first hand. Going into the community and experiencing the joy a single pair of shoes brings to a child or a mother is heart fulfilling! But that’s a quick and short term effect (which is fantastic!). It was learning about the long term effects micro-enterprises have in these developing nations that was eye opening. Making partnerships with individuals in these nations and providing them with a decent inventory of goods and some business training was amazing. It’s the opportunity of having a business to provide not only for their families but to help their communities. It’s a decent pair of shoes that could limit a child from going to school or a mother being able to go to work. Giving our no longer used shoes a new life and keeping them out of landfills seemed like a no brainer! S4S doesn’t just provide help internationally but domestically as well. I couldn’t help but put my energy into this organization and just completed a shoe drive (even during COVID-19) donating over 5k pairs of shoes! The work S4S is doing is phenomenal and they will forever be a part of my life. I will continue to stand on my SHOE BOX and shout out my praises for S4S!!!

Soles4Souls has changed my life in so many amazing ways! I was introduced with Soles4Souls in 2015 when I began working for the Nashville Predators. Through the Preds & S4S partnership, I have had the opportunity to travel on several Soles4Souls global experiences. The countries include Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Colombia and our recent trip to Tanzania (scheduled for July) was just postponed due to COVID. There are no words to express my love for this nonprofit and what they represent. I have continually witnessed the work being done by everyone involved and it is AMAZING. I look forward to several more years of giving shoes and giving love alongside all of my dear friends within S4S.

I have had the privilege of traveling with Soles4Souls multiple times. I have visited their warehouse. I have collected shoes & clothing. The decision about where to spend my time & funds was an easy one. Their mission is simple & effective. They are working not just to give people a one time "leg up" but to improve the quality of life for current & upcoming generations. Disrupting the cycle of poverty, teaching entrepreneurs, showing people that there are people who care & want to help them make the world better. I found my purpose with S4S & will do whatever I can to help them keep this mission alive!

This excellent nonprofit has an international reach that touches the lives of many poor children and adults. The shoes Soles4Souls provide improve the health and wellbeing individual recipients in immeasurable ways. In addition, the distribution of needed shoes in undeveloped nations is achieved through micro-enterprise which lifts people out of poverty. The Soles4Souls organization is efficient and easy to work with. They improve the lives of many people worldwide and more than achieve their goal of "wearing out poverty." I report this as a person who interfaced with S4S, collected shoes at my local level and passed them on to the organization for distribution.

I went on Soles4Souls Haiti trip. It was such a great and life-changing experience. Seeing the joy of those people after receiving shoes was something I will never forget. Thank you Soles4Souls!

I joined the staff of Soles4Souls three years ago as the Chief Financial Officer. I've worked in nonprofit for almost 30 years and have always enjoyed the challenging but relaxed environment of nonprofits. At Soles4Souls, it seems there are always wonderfully-exhilarating challenges. The difference is the atmosphere of "TEAM work" at Soles4Souls which makes everything so possible!

Soles4Souls is such a fantastic organization. The work that they do with not only providing shoes for those in need and their micro enterprise business is top notch. I have seen and met those who have had life change due to their programs. I have traveled with them to Haiti and the partnerships they have made and the impact on the community is one of excellence.

I have watched Souls for Souls' growing impact over the past years under dedicated leadership Buddy Teaster and and his committed team. I could not be more impressed and will continue my enthusiastic financial support .

I love Soles4Souls! I recently returned from a trip where I witnessed the work of S4S first-hand. Having recently joined the S4S team, I have to admit I was a little skeptical as to the real impact being made. But when I saw it in person and talked to the people who are benefitting from the programs, I was blown away. Children living in poverty are getting the shoes they desperately need. And the entrepreneurs who are selling shoes to earn a living -- their lives have been absolutely transformed!

Soles4Souls has changed my life, and I will support S4S until the day I die!!

S4S is an incredible organization that helps both in the US and abroad. Seeing the joy of a child's smile getting a new pair of shoes is truly magical! Both of my children have done shoe drives on their own and gotten so much out if the experience! The staff is so knowledgeable and make the process easy. Get involved with S4S now and not only change the life of someone in need, but change yours in the process.

I have for several years watched the progress of this incredible organization. What wonderful things they are doing for women empowerment and for the improvement of daily life for people all over the world. I happily watched our local church collect over 350 pairs of shoes for this worthwhile endeavor. Folks even went out and bought new shoes for toddlers and children. It lifted up our community every bit as much as it lifted those in need.

I sit on the Canadian Board and can't say enough about this incredible organization-I have seen first hand the power of a pair of shoes. The micro enterprise component of S4S is so inspiring and IS ending the cycle of proverty for people all over the world.

Soles4Souls truly lives its core values - Transparency, Entrepreneurial, Accountable and Meaningful. They turn shoes and clothing into opportunity thru their micro enterprise program - adding hope to others lives.

Soles4Souls is making a huge difference in the world! They are creating sustainable jobs and having an enormous impact in numerous countries that desperately need help.

Best experience of my life! My group went to Honduras for the week and went to 4 different distributions. Soles 4 souls was incredible and it was a life changing trip. Soles 4 souls organized food, hotels, all of our distributions, and our trip to see a waterfall! I got to meet so many beautiful people and provide so many children with a brand new pair of shoes. We also got to see first hand how people’s lives are completely turned around with the soles4 souls enterprise program.

Previously, I have been able to volunteer on different service and mission trips, but I had never traveled for one out of the country. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to participate in the Soles4Souls service trip to Honduras with my organization. Our organization has partnered with S4S the last 4 years so I had heard nothing but great things on how they arrange their trips.

The whole process was easy to register and was well prepared for all of our pre-travel necessities including what to pack, what to have done with immunization shots, etc. Going into the trip, I thought it would just be another service outing with current coworkers from my organization along with the representatives with Soles4Souls. Little did I know that we would become a very close unit of friends from different backgrounds devoting our time together and made the whole experience that much better. It was amazing to see firsthand how everything was handled and made the transition to step in and volunteer my time extremely easy and has made me look forward to going on future service trips with Soles4Souls because of their passion and desire to help others out when needed.

We had a great time starting our annual service trip tradition at the University of Texas. Athletes from 3 different sports enjoyed learning about Jamaica, interacting with the people, and making an internal and important impact through service with Soles4Souls! They make everything simple, yet impactful. Great time with a great organization!

We had the most rewarding experience with our distribution trip to Haiti last year led by Kristin and Megan. They were so organized and ensured everyone was safe, happy and had a very meaningful time while helping those in need.
Would highly recommend this amazing organization to anyone looking to give back.

I travelled with Soles4Souls to Puerto Rico as part of my company sponsored volunteer sabbatical. The experience was like none other - I was able to understand how less fortunate people live, learn from and appreciate their gratitude, love and dedication to family/community. S4S was extremely well organized both pre departure, arrival and post departure. The leaders we travelled with were knowledgeable, professional and passionate of the cause. They also partnered with extraordinary locals, who enhanced my experience as well. I highly recommend signing up for a life changing experience.

My Soles4Souls experience in Guatemala with Kristen absolutely changed my life! I could not be more grateful for this trip.

Volunteering wit Soles4Soul was one other most life changing experiences I ever had. Everything from how the trip was organized and planned to our amazing guide, Kristen Schwartz, and of course the amazing kids we were able to serve on our trip. I am blown away by the passion and genuine spirits of this organization and everyone associated with it. The minute we stepped off the plane, Soles4Souls felt like family and them along with the communities we served embraced us with open arms.

Traveling with Soles4Souls is one of the greatest opportunities I have had in my life. Their team is filled with selfless people, who you don't have to question anything with. I never once felt unsafe or unprepared when traveling with Soles4Souls. There was complete organization between our leader and the in-country partner the entire time. It takes a pretty special person to be able to open a level of vulnerability and honesty between everyone when reflecting about your days, and all of their leaders have this ability. It was really amazing to see the love the communities showed towards us, since they knew Soles4Souls had been there before. I am so unbelievably grateful for meeting the people I did, and to have these memories and relationships forever!

My name is Brendan Moreau and this past July I was lucky enough to travel through Soles4Souls with a group of fellow Rutgers University Student-Athletes. We traveled to the Montego Bay, Jamaica area to distribute shoes to Jamaican children in need. This trip far exceeded my expectations, and has changed the way I view certain aspects of my life. I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life.

There really aren't any words to describe or give enough credit to the Soles4Souls trips that I have been a part of these last three years. As cliché as it may sound, they're incredibly life changing. I look forward to these every summer and I am a loud of proud advocate of everything that S4S stands for. The people that we work with directly at Soles4Souls are remarkable and have the purest of souls. I will forever be a part of this heart warming cause!

I have had the tremendous honor of traveling to serve with Soles4Souls the past two years. They are so organized and so passionate about the work that they do that it makes it incredibly easy to dive in and fully give yourself to the children and communities that we get to visit. There are never any worries about the travel or in-country logistics - you show up, you give shoes and you give yourself to creating a bond that will last a lifetime and will hopefully lead to growth and a better future for these underserved communities. S4S creates this environment of compassion that has left me taking away so much more than I could ever imagine. The work I am able to do on these trips makes me want to always strive to do more. I can't thank Soles4Souls enough for the relationships I have created and the opportunities to go outside of my comfort zones. First class organization and I cannot wait to serve more with them in the future.

Will McCaskill, Nashville Predators

In May 2018 I was given the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica with Soles4Souls and 10 student-athletes from Iowa State University. As a men's basketball staff member I don't have the opportunity to spend much time with other athletes. This trip was a chance for me to serve some people in need, step out of my comfort zone and get to know some of our student athletes. I was able to accomplish all of that and more!!

First off, the organization and communication of our on the ground support, Kristen Schwartz, was amazing!! She helped prepare us for the trip without divulging so much that there were still pleasant surprises. I was even more impressed when I met Kristen in person and found out the total number trips she was personally responsible for. She treated us like we were her number one priority! Kristen is a rockstar and I feel like her ability to connect with the student-athletes and staff were her best qualities. The longer we were on the trip, the more respect I gained for her! She has a unique skillset that sets her a part from anyone else I have ever worked with in this capacity.

As for the impact the trip had on our athletes and myself I can tell you that it was noticeable from the first day. I mentioned earlier that not only did not know many of the athletes participating, they didn't know each other very well either. That was erased on day one when we broke the ice and participated in our first distribution. I was so proud to see our athletes not only showing genuine interest in the kids and staff but they also were trying their best to lear Spanish!

My experience was personally amazing! Not only was I able to meet new people and serve others but I was able to really experience genuine relationships with our athletes. We all shared personal stories and experiences.

The lasting memory that I will carry with me the most is our entire team sitting in a circle sharing our stories from the day. When I run into the athletes on campus we all make time to say hello and catch up. We will always have this bond and I'm honored to have been a part of their experience!

Micah Byars

Everything was absolutely incredible. Our group leader, Kristen, was so organized, kind, helpful, and supportive in every single way. The trip was so smooth and well planned. The experience was the greatest experience I have ever had in my life. There is nothing better than what I did with this nonprofit.

I've had the opportunity to travel with S4S twice internationally-Haiti, Honduras as well as domestically-Nashville, Atlanta. Both experiences were impactful on the local communities where folks are fighting to live day by day and lift themselves out of the cycle of poverty. All on the trip were impacted as well about the boots on the ground work that S4S does with it local partners to distribute shoes/clothes. All on S4S staff truly embrace the mission of "wearing out poverty". Proud to be associated with each of them!

Our organization, ReEstablish Richmond, were recipients of donations from Soles4Souls for our annual event called World Refugee Day. On this day, we invite individuals from the diverse groups of refugee communities in Richmond, Virginia and connect them to important resources in the community as well as an opportunity to celebrate their new journey with food, entertainment, and family fun. Soles4Souls not only provided shoe donations for our refugee families, their staff and volunteers provided support for distribution on the day of the event and helped promote our work in the media. They helped make our event successful and we are grateful!

Soles4Souls is a first rate organization. I have had the opportunity to travel with them on a couple of occasions and it has been excellent. They take care of all the little details most will not think of until it is upon them. I have been on several other mission trips and was pleasantly surprised at how well organized Soles4Souls was. From transportation to meals, whether we ate in a local town or at the hotel, it was all planned perfectly. They gained access to communities, orphanages and schools most groups would not have access to. This has a lot to do with their local partnerships with people in the communities they seek to serve. I will be going on many more trips with Soles4Souls. They have become an extended family.

I have the privilege of working with Soles4Souls as our donation charity partner. The team has been nothing short of amazing! They are open and honest, responsive, and incredibly easy to work with. In January 2017, I had to opportunity to join Soles4Souls on a giving trip in Haiti ... the trip was eye-opening, humbling, rewarding and life changing. Seeing first-hand how people's generous donations of shoes (that would likely otherwise end up in a landfill) can literally pull less fortunate folks out of poverty was very emotional and re-iterated how important the work we're doing together really is. All of that to say that, on all levels Soles4Souls is outstanding and I cannot say enough good things about them!

Soles4Souls does an amazing job of collecting shoes in our community. The Sports Center of Richmond has been a great spot to donate and collect shoes for Soles4Souls.

Soles4Souls donated 100s of pairs of new shoes to our World Refugee Community Resources fair. Recipients of the shoes were so excited about being able to find new shoes for each member of their family! Their staff were easy to work with and very responsive to the needs of the refugee community.
Kate Ayers, Executive Director, Re-Establish Richmond

My daughter and I just went to Guatemala on her 5th, and my 4th trip with Soles4Souls. We love this organization and the work they do. We go to help give - but we always receive far more in return. Soles4Souls has a wonderful mission and it is one we will continue to support in as many ways as we can for as long as we can.

I just returned from Guatemala, from my fifth trip with Soles4Souls. I cannot say enough great things about this non-profit and the work they do, both in the U. S. and all over the world. The travel experience is unforgettable and you are helping them to continue their mission of giving shoes and giving love. If you have wanted to do one of these trips, you will be overjoyed at making the decision to travel with them.

Check their website out, subscribe to their weekly email to find out what all they are doing, host a shoe drive. This organization helps out when disasters hit, they provide coats and socks to those in need. They've given shoes to the homeless. They are THERE for any circumstance!!

My daughter and I went on this trip together to Guatemala in July of 2017. What an incredible trip it was for both of us!! We received more from this experience than we gave!! The one on one connections we were able to make with the kids was a special memory I will always cherish. Being able to touch and wash their dirty worn feet, to seeing their eyes light up and their smiles stretch across their faces when they received their very own new pair of shoes was absolutely priceless!! Not only did we get to make an impact in others lives, but they made a huge difference in ours!
Another blessing was serving along side some amazing women and the special friendships that were made. Soles4Souls and our team leader Taylar Proctor did an incredible job planning and leading our team. Those five days were a life changer for me!! Thank you Soles4Souls for touching the lives of many!

The California State University (CSU) with its twenty-three campuses and 480,000+ students is the largest public higher education system in the US. Not surprisingly, the CSU-Emeritus and Retired Faculty Association (CSU-ERFA) is the largest organization of retired and emeritus faculty in the nation. Given the unanticipated honor of being elected to serve as President of CSU-ERFA, I have proposed a number of goals. One of them, which is very important to me, is the CSU Million Shoe Campaign in partnership with Soles4Souls (S4S). My co-chair for this endeavor is Emeritus Professor, Barbara Sinclair.

We piloted the S4S shoe drive at my home campus (CSU Dominguez Hills) over a year ago. Building on the lessons we learned, we expanded to CSU Los Angeles, Cal Poly Pomona, and San Diego State. This academic year the 38,000-student Cal State Long Beach campus is going to join the ranks. Barbara and I are working with the S4S staff to recruit other CSU campuses to implement this indirect and non-monetary approach to fighting poverty.

Obviously, the major goal of the S4S program is to provide shoes for those who lack any or adequate footwear. However, doing it at a university has a number of other important advantages. It is a campus-wide project involving students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni and corporate donors. It also allows the campus to reach out into the community and collect shoes from local schools and cities as well as churches, synagogues, temples, gyms, and a vast variety of other types of organizations. The public relations and organizational pay-offs have been incredible. Let’s fight poverty collectively!!!

Barbara and I, in conjunction with the S4S staff, would love to work with colleges and universities throughout the country to expand the marvelous program!!

~Bill Blischke

Soles for souls does an amazing job not only giving shoes for providing care for their recipients! They have fantastic organization, communication and follow through with their partners as well as volunteers!
I have worked with them as a photographer and as a volunteer for multiple trips and cannot say enough positive things about the entire staff !

I have worked with Soles4Souls in various different ways. First when I was working with a start-up "business for good" company. Soles4Souls was one of our non-profit partners and one of my favorite to work with. They have a powerful and direct mission, great staff, and wonderful media that conveys their work to supporters. Soles4Souls goes above and beyond to make sure the work they are doing is serving each individual community in a helpful and meaningful way. Additionally they monitor and update their programs to stay up to date with ever evolving community needs. I recently also got to travel to Haiti with Soles4Souls. I was impressed by the contacts they have made and their allowance to let local leaders guide Soles4Souls' work based on what they know would help their community. As for my background, I have a degree in International Studies and have experience with a number of non-profits, foundations, and "business for good". Soles4Souls is one of the best and sets a standard for both stepping back and letting local leaders guide their work and constantly evolving in order to stay in touch with each community they work in and it's specific needs.

Soles4Souls has been an absolute pleasure to work with. They are doing amazing work around the world. Everyone in the organization is so dedicated and committed to improve lives and wear out poverty. We are truly honored to be partnered with them.

Soles4Souls, as one of its community outreach programs, offers local high school seniors at 3 participating Title 1 status schools in the Nashville area the opportunity to experience micro-enterprise firsthand. Through a collaboration with teachers, school leaders, and Belmont University, Soles4Souls teaches students relevant skills related to marketing, collaboration, social enterprise, college access and readiness, cultural awareness, civic engagement, and project management over the course of a school year. Students collaborate to collect shoes in their community, and then--once they complete a project, service hours, a research paper, a portfolio, and a presentation to stakeholders--they are given the opportunity to serve those in need through a four-day shoe distribution. Not only does this program change the lives of children receiving shoes, but it also changes the lives of students in Nashville as they engage globally to combat poverty in a very tangible way. Students often report after their year-long experience that they have a passion for helping others, a commitment to continue serving, and a desire to learn from new cultures and communities.

I teach sustainable business practices at The Ohio State University. A few years ago I became acquainted with S4S and agreed to have an MBA class perform a variety of projects to assist S4S to sharpen its outreach program. My students and were very impressed with the quality and dedication of the S4S staff and their commitment to using best practices to improve and expand their impact. This is an organization worthy of support by us all in whatever way we can help.

As a public high school teacher, I was introduced to Soles 4 Souls through project-based learning. My students and I were truly blessed to be in partnership with this incredible organization; they learned so much more than I could provide in the classroom. Soles 4 Souls included opportunities to expand their reading, writing, and social skills-even more so their awareness of the world and its cultures. I am so proud of their accomplishments! We have so many more students who have never experienced the joy of giving, and Soles 4 Souls is such reassurance that my students will learn their true purpose as a human being.

Incredible people make up the team of this charity with their heart in the right place and believing they can make the world a better place. Altruism is rare and precious, and the experience of giving someone a smile because of the items S4S collects is worth more than all the money in the world!

I have travelled with S4S multiple times, to very remote areas. They do amazing work, both at the level of the individual (a young orphan or school child getting new durable shoes); and programmatically; by launching micro-enterprises, and being able to deliver sturdy shoes for a fraction of the price of other groups. They really care; it is a pleasure to support them. - Tim

Soles4Souls has been a reliable donations partner for our company for years. They have the full package: a powerful mission and the back-end support to make the donation process easy and streamlined. We could not be happier with our partnership with Soles4Souls!

I've been involved with Soles4Souls since 2014 and since that time I've collected 1134 pairs of gently worn shoes. It's such an easy concept to get your arms and heart around.....everyone has a pair of shoes or two that can be donated and there are so many children in this world that desperately need a pair of shoes in order to attend school and stave off a bad infection that potentially could kill them. I also love the concept of sustainability and the work that Soles4Souls does with the individuals who set up shop to sell the shoes therefore putting food on their tables and roofs over their heads.

I wanted to go full circle and see my work at hand so in March 2017 I took an amazing trip to the Dominican Republic. My thoughts on the trip ended up in verse;

Life is found in giving a piece of your life away
Giving a slice of your heart and a bit of your soul to someone in need
Getting outside of yourself and looking into the eyes of another...with care
Being present in the moment
Being here for them
A touch
A smile
A wash of the feet
Creating a memory that can't be taken away
Life is heavy, life is light, life is meant to be shared with others

I encourage all of you to begin to collect those shoes or donate dollars to the cause of Wearing Out Poverty. I continue to collect shoes for Soles4Souls and can't wait until my next trip with them.

AMAZING team! Can't wait to he's to Haiti in April!

A group of friends and I have partnered with Soles4Souls for the past 2 years and are in the process of working with them again in 2016. We have collect 2,000 shoes in honor of a dear friend who lost her battle with Cervical Cancer in 2013. This is a wonderful organization that is making a HUGE impact on the world through something as simple as shoes. We feel very blessed to be able to have such an amazing partnership with them! Give HOPE. Give SHOES.

I just came across this charity and think they are doing an awesome job of providing shoes for those in need!

Soles4Souls commitment to "Wearing out Poverty" is outstanding. They are organized, personable with genuine staff members who put 100% in to everything they work on. I have never been happier working with a charity and love the simpleness of giving shoes to give someone a chance in life.

I am so glad and thankful that there is an organization that helps children in needs . Reviewing the good causes that the volunteers and donors have done to these children made my heart melt of overwhelmed joy and gives me the relief feeling of justice that was given to these children and that is why i am so proud of Pusong Pinoy. Not only that, Pusong Pinoy is definitely a transparent non-profit organization. I myself have experienced that this organization really ensures all the donations will surely reach the intended beneficiaries. This organization has helped the students of our Society. We are grateful to you for all the helps and blessings we have received from you.

With Love and prayers,
Sr. Christina SKD
General of Society of Kristudasis.

I have went on two Travel4Souls trips and had an amazing time! I also went with my church on a mission trip and we distributed shoes via Soles4Souls as well this past month.

Kelly H is an amazing leader and has a heart of gold. I visited both Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Haiti over the past year and have helped give over 1000 pairs of new shoes to children, as well as, used shoes to many others. I believe in continuing to engage my friends and neighbors throughout my community in shoe drives and hopefully encouraging them to also be a part of Travel4Souls one day! I highly recommend signing up for a trip. It'll change your life!
-Kandi M.

Soles4souls was a wonderful experience and would highly recommend it to anyone! I enjoyed the people, culture of Tanzania and the beauty of the country! I never realized ALL I would personally take away from such a great trip! I thought about all I would have to do and give to make this trip possible, but the return on your time and expense is PRICELESS :)

My advise to anyone thinking about joining Soles4souls, is this "just do it". Find a country you would like to visit and sign up, everything else will fall into place and it will be a trip you will remember for a life time!

Jodi Sampson
Tanzania Trip 2013

I went to Costa Rica with Sole4Souls and experienced so much. Not only do they help connect us with the children who we passed out shoes to but we got to see some of the city and did some touring as well. Everything was well organized, and we were cared for very well and the coordinator made sure we felt at home the entire time.

My 16 year old son and I went on the trip to Honduras with S4S. It was an amazing & humbling experience. We went to an Orphanage called Emmanuel and put shoes on 100+ kids feet and had the opportunity to stay at the orphanage and play with the children. Our fearless leader Kelly was amazing and we felt very safe at all times. I would highly recommend this trip. We are planning another trip for next year. Muchas Gracias

My school collected shoes for Soles4Souls and the entire community got behind this wonderful organization. I cannot say enough good things about Soles4Souls. They were eager to accept our 2500 pairs of shoes. Then I traveled with Soles4Souls to Costa Rica to help give shoes to needy children. What a rewarding and life changing experience. They do so much more than giving away shoes. Their partners in other countries reach out to find the individuals that are the most in need. The Soles4Souls coordinator that traveled with us to Costa Rica went the extra mile to make sure we had a memorable experience. Back in the United States I even met the CEO of Soles4Souls and he too showed how each person associated with them have the passion and dedication to making a difference in the world. I have volunteered in the community for over 30 years and I can say I have never experienced an organization of this caliber that truly makes a difference in not only the United States but in the world.

My husband and I went on a trip to Haiti with Soles4Souls and were impressed not only with the quality and character of the leaders but with their commitment and passion to making a positive and sustainable difference where it is so desperately needed. To see the impact up close and personal, and to be given the opportunity to be a part of it, was nothing less than life-changing. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Wow...

I sit on the Board of two other nonprofits and Soles4soles blows me away. There's a huge difference between an organization that will sit around a fancy boardroom once a month talking about getting things done and my experience with Soles4Soles. Soles4Souls...they don't just talk....they" just do it...." Kelly, you are a great leader . God Bless all those children in the Orphanage Emmanuel in Honduras. So far....my absolute favorite trip with Soles4souls!!!! See you next time! Chris N. (PS, swear I'm taking a spanish class..)

I went on a trip with my college as a humanitarian and global outreach project. This was a ground breaking trip for my small Methodist college and I believe this was the perfect organization to use. They were very organized and transparent.

The process of collecting, sorting, boxing and shipping off shoes to a country in need, was an interesting process. However, the experience became real when we actually handed out the shoes to the children in Costa Rica.

Seeing the living conditions and hearing stories of abuse, neglect, and filth in the squatter villages made me want to cry. However, seeing the children dancing and singing gave me hope. Again, it made me realize how fortunate we really are.
We are so fortunate to not have to worry about clothes or shoes.
We wake up every morning with the LUXURY of CHOICE and DECISION…what outfit or WHICH shoes should I wear today.

Even though we did not speak the same language, the smile on their faces and the twinkle in their eyes when a new pair of shoes were put on their feet said it all.

Shoes and clothing are collected to take to Haiti. A high school friend is leading a shoe drive in the Middle TN area to take the love to Haiti. She has engaged so many to help, that it has been an inspiration to everyone involved. LOVE this nonprofit and everyone involved in making it a success!!!

I was an Army Medic assigned to one of the biggest Infantry divisions in the U.S. One of the major problems the foot soldier faced were foot diseases. They can be as mild as athletes foot to as traumatic as gangrene from an open sore in unsanitary conditions; which can lead to amputation and sometimes even death. Most people do not realize how a pair of shoes in a poor area can not only save lives; but increase the children's state of health. I applaud Soles4Souls for seeing and trying to remedy this issue. It is also extremely difficult for a child to engage in healthy play; while barefoot. And if you don't believe me; take your shoes off and try kicking a ball effectively! In fact I challenge anyone who reads this to; on their next day off; engage in your normal daily activities; while barefoot! And then do it again this winter. I am confident that after accepting my challenge; you will see how important Soles4Souls mission really is.

There are no words to express how truly wonderful of an experience working with Soles4Souls is! Truly LIFE CHANGING! 3 years ago, I teamed up our small school and small community with Soles4Souls, and successfully collected nearly 10,000 shoes in 2 months! We now are home to one of their largest warehouses and are Ohio's Regional Collection Site, thanks to Keller Trucking! Last year we collected 41,500 books for Hope4Souls, and this year, we have a goal of 50,000 shirts for Clothes4Souls. The staff is amazing and very hands on! I have personally visited their world headquarters in Nashville, and was amazed at their open door policy. We personally met everyone that was at work that day! This organization has changed not only my life, but the life of our school, and our community! Hands down, the best organization EVER!

They put their feet to the ground and start walking. You couldn't ask for a non profit to be more focused.

This non-profit is committed to social and economic justice, from the ground-up... literally. Souls4Souls is an inspiration to all of us who wish to connect with people in a real and meaningful way! A great organization!

This is a phenomenal organization! I have been fortunate enough to travel with S4S four times in two years and have cherished my experiences. I never would have had the resources, courage or organization to travel to a third world country without their support. The execution of each trip I have taken has been excellent and all of the staff I have ever interacted with are passionate, organized, interesting and genuinely fun, kind people! The trips allow you to do necessary service, interact with recipients of the shoes, experience the country's culture and feel safe, supported and protected.

An AMAZING organization...altruistic....when you give...it will go.....exactly how you desired! We have been involved with S4S for nearly 3 years, had the wonderful fortune to travel to Haiti and learn about these beautifully ambitious people....This non-profit will be in OUR lives for a long, long time!

Our Director of Field Sales & Marketing (functioning as President of Women in Cable & Television President) got us active along with competing Cable Companies to donate shoes for Soles4Souls. When all was said in done we donated over 80 pairs of shoes. I was responsible for collecting them from Wisconsin Time Warner, packing them and getting them shipped. I received wonderful thank you notes from WICT, Soles4Souls and even Village Northwest Unlimited who received some of the shoes for their clients. It is a most worthwhile charity to donate shoes to.

I know them from Facebook and am an avid follower of their good deeds. They inspire me to do more and to always remember those in need. I am so grateful for what they do and want to pull together friends to help in their venture to help people in need one shoe at a time. Thumbs up to them and the get the 'Like' buttonfrom me all day every day!

One of the best part about S4S is the multiple levels of opportunity to get involved; you can donate a pair of shoes, you can host a shoe drive, you can travel with them to deliver collected shoes to those in need, or you can do all three! S4S is one of the few organizations that I know of that gives everyone a chance to get involved, by donating unused shoes in their closet. Additionally, I don't know of too many organizations who allow you to travel with them to experience firsthand the work done by the organization.
As someone who has volunteered through their travel program, I have to praise the staff I worked with. They truly do care about changing lives, both of the volunteers they are with and those of the community they are serving.
Additionally, because of their strong partnerships with organizations in countries abroad, resources are used efficiently and successfully.

My experience with S4S has been awesome. They have been a terrific partner with our work in Honduras. We have worked together on both the donation and micro-economic side and have been succesful with both. i have found the staff to be compassionate, smart, quick to respond and they do what they say they will do. I cannot say this about all the non-profits I have dealt with.

As part of a large national walking event, I first learned about Soles4Souls in 2009 when we began recycling shoes post-event to be donated to them. I gained interest in S4S and continued to follow their doings in various ways, mostly online. I can see the difference they are making in the lives of thousands of impoverished peoples. This is an easy and accessible way to make a difference and the results are plain to see in the smiles on recipients' faces as they wear their new shoes with joy.

If you are looking for a non profit to do work with S4S is the one!!! I am a 2 time volunteer with the Travel4Souls division of Soles4Souls. My trips were to Haiti, it was my first journey to a third world country. I knew it was going to be an experience of a lifetime, but I did not realize that my life would be forever changed. Thanks to S4S I have now found a true purpose in life. To continue to do good work in Haiti. The leadership both here in the states as well as in Haiti is top notch. Professionals who have a compassion for doing good work in the states and around the world. Thank You again Soles4Souls for changing my life and helping me understand what purpose really means.......

The work that we have been able to do for the past 4 years with Soles4Souls has been incredible. They way that they are able to connect with the community of Los Angeles and then connect them to us has been a true blessing. Many lives have been touched by the more than 20 000 pairs of shoes that they have donated which includes those who are homeless to the Hollywood elite. Soles4Souls is truly a life changing company.

it's easy to give to this charity - simply clean out your closet!!!

Soles 4 Souls is a wonderful organization. Over the past few year, they have donated hundreds and hundreds of shoes to the deserving students in After-School All-Stars, Los Angeles programs; which serves inner-city kids from low-income neighborhoods. Soles 4 Soles is generous, ambitious and sincere in the help the offer the community. Any individual would be proud to work with them or be affiliated with their efforts.

What an amazing group! I love what this charity represents and all the good it has done for our athletes and people in need around the world. Thank you Soles4Souls!

Travel4Souls / Souls4Soles offers a unique opportunity to do hands on volunteer work with direct interaction with the people you are serving with no experience, simply the desire to improve the lives of others and change the world through a simple, yet important, gift of shoes. I love that the distribution trips are not only about giving out shoes, but interacting and spending time with & showing love to the people we meet. It's a great catalyst to see the world and return home with a changed perspective and desire to do more in your own community.

I helped by proudly being the platform in promoting and providing a voice to this organization by posting their story in the Village Connector community newspaper. This newspaper is a good news newspaper no crime, politics or controversy....so good news in its community and only on line. We share this touching organization and all they do with so many in Maryland and other States too. Many readers have commented as to the warmheartedness of this organization truly the heart and soul of giving. http://villageconnector.com/howardcountymd/2010/11/everyone-wants-a-lift/

I love what this charity represents. We did a shoe drive at our church and they made it so easy! The shipping process was also a breeze! I really want to sign up to go on one of the "giving" trips....I hope that I can work that out soon!

Soles4Souls not only does great work, but they do it well, and with integrity. Their organization is filled with people who truly care about those they serve.

I've worked in nonprofit leadership for over 30 years and I am THRILLED to learn that after tons of well-deserved bad publicity and outrageous salary paid to the CEO he was forced out. The board (what is left of it) is truly committed to making this a legitimate organization and rebuilding.

A agree with the other posters that the accounting seems very odd.

1. To its benefit, contributions are incredible, doubling every year. Any NPO would be proud of S4S' record.

2. In Part VIII, cash contributions (line 1c) and fundraising expenses not including line 1c (line 8a) are exactly the same amount, $1,145,217. What is the chance of that being accurate? Zero, if you believe Schedule G, which gives a different accounting of fundraising activities.

3. Some of the noncash contributions must be monetized. Cash contributions in Part VIII are $1.1m yet Part IX salaries are over $2m and legal is $214k. There doesn't seem to be enough cashflow to pay the expenses unless some of the donated item are being sold to pay salaries and expenses. Plus, net assets in Part X grew by more than $9m, so clearly all the donations are not flowing to the poor and needy.
For example, the noncash contributions from the rich are said to be $71.7m while grants to the needy were just $60.6m (still a very impressive number, even if substantially less than the contributions).

4. Part VII lists no independent contractors making more than $100k. This is only possible if all the work is purposefully divided among many contractors to conceal names. Legal expenses are $214k, advertising $810k, occupancy $181k, distribution $413k, and direct mail $267k, yet, again, we are told that none of these large categories had more than $100k to a single vendor.

5. Schedule O says the Directors reviewed the Form 990. There are enough reporting and math mistakes on this Form 990 to make that statement unlikely. At a minimum, the Directors should wonder where is the attached request for an extension, since this Form 990 is late.

I was informed by people who have been to the Domican Republic that all the shoes and clothing items sent over there are taken by the local citizens and sold on the street corners in Haiti. There was also a show on tv explaining all the scams going on involving donations by good hearted caring citizens of the US. They even showed a rapper singing his song about how the citizens of the US are so stupied and that's with a captial "S". They laugh in our faces and brag about how rich they get off of our good intentions. Why do we keep falling for all these sick scams. Leave me out of this one.

A lot of folks are very positive about S 4 S's work, but I find it troubling that the CEO is earning over $400,000 a year--for the past several years. I and others in this line of work try to align our own living standard with those we serve--although as Rich World residents, we never really get there.

I just think it says something about the priorities of an org if they're saying they're concerned about the poor, but find a way to enrich themselves as they serve the needy.

I traveled to Haiti with S4S in March 2011. An amazing experience. S4S covers all the arrangements from the US to the country of work and back. We spent 5 days in Haiti and it was one of the best trips I have ever been fortunate to take. We led two shoe distributions - new shoes donated to S4S. We sat individually with each recipient - washed their feet, fitted their shoes and touched their lives, if only for a few moments. It is beautiful and simple - yet very meaningful. Shoes are critical to avoiding disease and mites that come in through cracked feet walking in the dirt. You will see and experience the country like no other trip. Katie Lentile and John our guide were incredible. Pick a country and go!

I was looking for a charity to help Haiti and came across these guys. As I do with all charities I looked at their 990 long form from 2007. In it there is an extraordinary expense for $2,600,000+ (2.6 million dollars plus) for "Concert Expense"). The question is ... how can that be ? Wouldn't that money be better spent in Haiti ? And it brings into question the rest of their activities. That said, apparently they do collect a lot of used shoes. They must sell them to get the millions of dollars they have on their balance sheet. Something smells fishy here.