National Collegiate Athletic Association

NCAA News Archive - 2010

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Aug 18, 2010 10:37:44 AM

Ferris State's athletics department recently donated more than 300 pairs of athletics shoes to the Soles4Souls organization, an international shoe charity.

Soles4Souls facilitates large donations of new or gently worn shoes from various footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools and individuals across the country. The shoes are then given to people throughout the world who desperately need footwear.

The athletics program partnered in the effort with Dr. Jeff Mossel and the Big Rapids (Michigan) Foot and Ankle Clinic.

Soles4Souls began in 2004 in the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, where nearly three out of four people were barefoot. Now, Soles4Souls sends more than 2 million pairs of shoes per year to more than 125 countries. In the United States, Soles4Souls donates shoes to homeless shelters and battered women's centers.

To date, more than 10 million pairs of shoes have been donated throughout the world.

Many of the shoes donated by Ferris State were used on the Bulldogs' previous artificial-turf football playing surface at Top Taggart Field. Those shoes are no longer needed with the recent installation of the new Mondo Ecofill field.

"Thousands of people all over the world have inadequate shoes for work, sport and daily activities," Mossel said. "Inadequate shoes lead to multiple foot injuries daily, which often go untreated. Through collaboration in our community, we will change hundreds of lives by providing quality shoes for athletes in need."

Soles4Souls accepts all types of shoes: athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance, flip flops, as long as they are new or gently worn. Additionally, monetary donations are accepted and can be made online via the Soles4Souls website.