Westside Elementary School has announced its participation in a unique fundraising program offered by the international shoe charity, Soles4Souls, to raise funds for a new school club.

The Soles4Souls Fundraiser is an innovative and philanthropic alternative to traditional fundraisers that allows organizations such as schools, churches, and civic groups to raise important revenue while sponsoring new shoes for children in need in the more than 125 different countries in which Soles4Souls does distributions.

During this virtual shoe drive, Westside Elementary School students will be collecting financial sponsorships of new shoes that they will return to Soles4Souls. Soles4Souls will then use the sponsorships collected by the students to send new shoes to children in need, as well as return a portion of the total collected back to the school to use for its own purposes.

“Our fundraising program is a partnership in its truest form,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “When students like those at Westside Elementary step up and participate, we are able to put shoes on the feet of children who need them, while also being able to support the important work our schools do every day. This program gives students the opportunity to develop their sense of social responsibility, while working together to make a difference—both worldwide and at home.”

Westside Elementary School will run the fundraising program from February 7th to Feb. 28, and is looking forward to the support of its local community. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.Soles4SoulsFundraising.org/Westside.

Fundraiser Contact: Odell Abram, 706-331-5686, oabram@polk.k12.ga.us

Soles4Souls Contact: Elizabeth Kirk, 615-391-5723, elizabethk@giveshoes.org

About Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects, recycles and reuses shoes from warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. We distribute usable shoes to people in need around the world (we recycle less than 2% of donated footwear). Since 2005, Soles4Souls has given away nearly 12 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes (currently distributing one pair every 7 seconds). The shoes have been distributed in 125 countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org for more information.