Celebrities often use the money they are blessed with to give back to those in need — in their own country as well as those across the world. It’s a commonly known concept that for those who have been given much should give much. Two celebrity charities have decided to use their influence and celebrity status to help those across the world who are without shoes.
One such organization is Soles4Souls, an organization based in Nashville, Tennessee that collects shoes from footwear companies as well as gently used shoes from people all over and sends them to countries where they are needed. Shoes are also sent to areas that have been devastated by hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters.
When the earthquake hit Haiti in January 2010, Soles4Souls created a new division called 50,000 shoes with the goal to raise enough money to buy 50,000 shoes and donate them. For every $5, two people, mostly children, are given shoes — many of whom have never owned a pair of shoes. Celebrities have gotten involved to spread the word about this goal including Jessica Simpson, Seth Green, Wanda Sykes, and Kristin Chenoweth.
Another celebrity charity helping to donate shoes is Toms Shoes, which was founded by Blake Mycoskie who was on The Amazing Race. The idea with this charity is that for every pair of shoes purchased, one pair of shoes is donated to a child in need. While Mycoskie was traveling around the world for the show, he found there were so many children who had never owned a pair of shoes and were walking around bare foot. According to the organization’s website, shoes are important because it helps to prevent the spread of disease from contaminated soil, helps prevent the possibility of cuts and sores that can become infected, and increases the chances of being able to attend school.