Help The Little Gym and Soles4Souls collect 1 million shoes!

I first became aware of Soles4Souls about a year ago, and thought that it was a great charity and an easy way for everyone to help those in need.  So I was pleased when I dropped my kids off at The Little Gym last week and saw a Soles4Souls collection bin there. Then the next day I got this press release, and I'm even more determined now to go through our closets and find some shoes to donate! Read on for all the details!

THE LITTLE GYM AND SOLES4SOULS® JOIN FORCES FOR “BIG HEARTS, LITTLE SHOES” SHOE DONATION CAMPAIGN

The Little Gym Launches Challenge to Collect One Million Shoes for Those in Need

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (July 25, 2012) – The Little Gym, the experiential learning and child physical development center for ages 4 months through 12 years, is launching a new initiative to collect used or outgrown shoes. The program, called “Big Hearts, Little Shoes,” benefits Soles4Souls, the international charity that collects shoes and distributes them to people in need around the globe.

“Big Hearts, Little Shoes” at The Little Gym is the first dedicated campaign for Soles4Souls focused on collecting children’s shoes. The program provides an interactive way for children to learn the value of charity and for parents and children to participate in a cause together.

At The Little Gym, each class begins with children removing their shoes before entering the gym floor. Beginning this fall with the 2012-2013 Season of classes, children and parents can donate shoes they have outgrown or no longer need in special Soles4Souls drop boxes located in the lobbies of The Little Gym locations. The shoes will be shipped to Soles4Souls, which is committed to collecting and distributing shoes to people living in extreme poverty and recovering from natural disasters.

The Little Gym and Soles4Souls are challenging families to donate one million adult and children’s shoes. For those children who grow up barefoot, every step counts in building self-confidence, even receiving a donation of a single pair of shoes.

“Helping parents celebrate their children’s milestones is one of the most heartwarming parts of our day,” said Bob Bingham, President and CEO of The Little Gym International. “Whether it’s sharing their first steps, or their first somersault or cartwheel, families experience special moments together as part of their children’s development at The Little Gym. The ‘Big Hearts, Little Shoes’ program provides a unique opportunity for children to make a positive impact. It’s also a natural fit with the ‘Citizen Kid’ component of our core curriculum that focuses on life skills that help children grow into well-rounded citizens of the world.”

One hundred percent of all shoes donated to Soles4Souls are sustainable: More than 99% are used to help those in need, and the remaining that cannot be used are directed to a waste-to-energy facility where they are used to produce environmentally clean and renewable energy.

“Soles4Souls’ mission of helping people has always attracted little helping hands in the past, but The Little Gym is taking it to the next level,” said Kevin Goughary, CEO of Soles4Souls. “With the ‘Big Hearts Little Shoes’ program, we hope to rally a new group of ‘mini’ donors that will have a ‘mega’ impact on the world. It really is about kids helping kids and we’re thrilled to be a part.”

Parents can visit www.TheLittleGym.com/BigHeartsLittleShoes to find the nearest “Big Hearts, Little Shoes” donation location. The website also will feature an animated video narrated by child actor Jonathan Morgan Heit (“Jake and the Never Land Pirates,” “Bedtime Stories”) that explains the campaign in a way children can understand. Parents can connect through social media on The Little Gym’s Facebook page and by following The Little Gym on Twitter (@TheLittleGym).

About The Little Gym

The Little Gym is an internationally recognized program that helps children build the developmental skills and confidence needed at each stage of childhood. The very first location was established in 1976 by Robin Wes, an innovative educator and kinesiologist with a genuine love for both children and music. The Little Gym International, Inc., headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was formed in 1992 to franchise The Little Gym concept. Today, The Little Gym International has more than 300 locations across the globe. For more information, visit The Little Gym at www.TheLittleGym.com.

About Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls collects new shoes to give relief to the victims of abject suffering and collects used shoes to support micro-enterprise efforts to eradicate poverty. Soles4Souls’ other two divisions, Clothes4Souls and Hope4Souls, provide the same relief and support through clothing and other necessities. Donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Visit www.giveshoes.org, www.clothes4souls.org, or www.hope4souls.org for more information.