Chicago Skyline

Chicago Illinois, to some is considered, “The Windy City”,  ”Chi-Town, “The Chill”, “Chicagoland”, “The City of Broad Shoulders”, and even “New Gotham”.  To others living below the poverty level it’s considered just another place to survive.  The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless reports that there are 21,000 homeless people in Chicago on any given night.  Men. Women. Children. Families.

Give Your Sole hopes to alleviate some of the stress involved for these families when having to decide how to spend what money they do have. That is why we are excited to be partnering again with Breakthrough Urban Ministries and donating to them the shoes we collect from the Chicago Rock ‘n’ Roll 1/2 Marathon Health and Fitness Expo.

Some of the shoes collected at the 2009 Chicago Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon

Over the past seventeen years, Breakthrough Urban Ministries has provided sanctuary to more than 10,000 homeless people in Chicago seeking shelter from the effects of poverty and addiction.

For seven years, Breakthrough Urban Ministries has provided a network of support to over 500 children and their families seeking hope for a better future.

Each year, Breakthrough Urban Ministries serves…

64,000 meals to homeless men and women.

240 homeless men and women who find safe harbor in Breakthrough’s shelters.

120 homeless women by providing 24/7 shelter and free health care to those without insurance or Medicaid.

I’d like to thank Arloa Sutter , the leader and founder of Breakthrough Urban Ministries, for all her and her team does to partner with Give Your Sole making this such a great event for both parties.

Being born in Central Illinois I’m always excited to be able to work with organizations in Chicago and those who want to give back to their hometowns. That is why for this event we are fortunate to also partner with the Luol Deng Foundation founded by Professional Chicago Basketball star Luol Deng.  While our focus continues to be on those domestically who find themselves homeless or in need, we also realize that many across the globe face many similar, if not worse, circumstances.  Recently, Adam Andre, the director of the Luol Deng Foundation, returned from a trip with Luol to his hometown in Sudan where he saw first hand the degree of poverty only few can imagine.  Being friends with Adam and him knowing we would be in town collecting shoes at this event he reached out to me in hopes of being the recipient of whatever we could offer from our collection efforts. That is why I decided since we would be collecting for 3 days that we would donate the shoes we collect on race day to help their cause.  I’d like to thank Adam and Luol for thinking of us when they saw a need for shoes and having the desire to work together in hopes of providing much needed shoes to those living in poverty in the Sudan region.  We are happy the timing worked out for us to be able to form such a partnership during this event.

I’ve come to realize that as much pain as we see, we aren’t going to be able to help everyone not only in our great nation but those abroad. However, seeing these things will never stop us from trying and if a friend of mine has a heart for wanting to help others, I’m not about to stand in his way should he come to me. Knowing the tremendous hearts that all the Rock ‘n’ Roll runners and participants have from doing so many events I’d like to thank you in advance for the donations you are about to be make that will not only unite our three great organizations but more importantly unite those who “have” with those who “have not”.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Seattle Union Gospel Mission

We are extremely excited to be heading to Seattle this week not only to be a part of another great Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon presented by Competitor Group but to also work with the Seattle Union Gospel Mission as the recipient of all the shoes we collect over three days of being in town.  The Mission is the only shelter in King County that offers 3 meals a day, 7 days a week and averages 1200 meals a day.  The statistics for King County are alarming:

Homelessness in King County…

• Over 8,961 people are homeless on any given night in King County
• Children under the age of 18 make up 33 percent of the shelter and transitional housing population
• Over 21 percent of the homeless population have experienced domestic violence
• 18 percent of people living in shelters and transitional programs in King County are employed
• 48 percent of the shelter population has been homeless one year or longer
• 30 percent of homeless people sleeping outside spend the night in their cars.
• In Seattle, the cost of supportive housing was estimated at $26 per person per day, in contrast with $87.67 for a day in jail, $555 for mental hospitals and $2,184 for hospitals

It is obvious there is a need for helping those on the streets of Seattle and the surrounding areas.  We know from talking with our contacts at the shelter that shoes will get used. Everyone knows that Seattle is damp and wet place to live; let alone having to do it on the streets…bare foot.  Spring rain brings beautiful flowers but for those living on the street it means wet, sore and badly blistered feet.  Brian, one of the men who frequents the shelter for meals, was heard saying, “Our feet get really chewed up”.

Man on streets of Seattle without shoes

We have an incredible opportunity this week to really make a difference and work to provide 8900 people on the streets with moderately worn shoes. We will be collecting shoes at the Health and Fitness Expo taking place at Qwest Event Center Thursday June 24th 11am-7pm and Friday 25th 10am-7pm.  We ask that you wash your shoes prior to donating them if possible, but not required.  We will accept all moderately worn men, women and children’s shoes.

Join us in making sure that every person in our country has a pair of shoes.  While housing continues to be the main issue when it comes to homelessness, so is helping people get back on their feet.  In order to do so, we must work together to give them something to stand in.

Inaugural 13.1 Marathon New York April 3rd, 2010

Give Your Sole is excited to announce they will be attending the 13.1 Marathon Inaugural New York race, another great event put on by US Road Sports and Entertainment Group.  On April 3rd, 2010 runners will take to the streets of New York starting in historic Flushing Meadows Park in front of Arthur Ashe stadium and finishing in the shadow of the Unisphere. Give Your Sole will be collecting all your moderately worn tennis shoes, sneakers and athletic shoes of any kind at the packet pick up locations on Thursday April 1st and Friday April 2nd prior to race day.  Give Your Sole will be collecting shoes on race day as well at their booth (located near the Team World Vision booth) near the finish line. For those who want to donate the shoes right off their feet, FREE Give Your Sole flip flops (while supplies last) will be provided so you won’t go home barefoot.

All the shoes collected at this particular event will be donated to the New York Rescue Mission to help people in need. New York City Rescue Mission was the first homeless shelter in NYC to open its doors every day to alcoholics and the underserving poor for its soup kitchen meals and Christian gospel services. Since 1872, thanks to donations and volunteering, this non-profit ministry has helped alleviate homelessness, hunger and addiction by providing emergency services such as food, clothing, shelter, counseling and spiritual hope.

Give Your Sole partners with New York Rescue Mission

This event is going to be one you’ll remember.  By combining our passion for running and helping those in need we are excited to work together with the people of New York in being able to give back to such an incredible city in hopes of making life a little bit easier for those on the streets.  Make sure to get signed up for this inaugural race and remember to bring your shoes! See you soon New York!

It didn’t take the runners 500 years to rise up and breathe life into charity at the P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona marathon and 1/2; they did it in three days. Give Your Sole received over 500 pairs of shoes throughout the weekend’s convention and racing events, which are already helping those less fortunate in the Phoenix area.

This was our first big event of 2010 and it didn’t disappoint. Our weekend started early Friday morning with a news segment on Sonoran Living, ABC – KNXV Phoenix local. Brett put his camera “shyness” aside and sent forth our message in crystal clear fashion. We were also able to gain the support of Miss Arizona, USA 2010 – Brittany Bell who happened to be in the studio audience that morning.

Off to the Health and Fitness Expo at the convention center where we were eager to meet and spend some time with Brenda Combs. Before I continue though, a great, big, huge THANK YOU needs to go out to all those who helped volunteer while in Phoenix. Without your support (Russ, Melinda, Jack, John, Jake, Kyle, Peggy, Steve and Helen) we would have never been able to do all that we did that weekend.

Imagine waking up one day to find yourself lying in an alley, not knowing how you got there, it’s hot – you’re confused, hungry and hurting. Looking around, all you see is broken glass, needles and sharp stones lining all paths leading you to more familiar grounds. You gather yourself to get back on your feet to walk to, well, walk to anywhere but there. It’s then you realize that if you’re going to take those necessary steps, you’re going to have to do so barefoot; someone has stolen your shoes. I’d like you to meet Brenda Combs.  One could learn a lifetime of lessons in spending sixty minutes with Brenda and her son Mycole as we did Friday afternoon, but it simply wasn’t enough time to capture her amazing story. More on that later…..

Convention bound – it was the first event of 2010 both Brett and I were able to attend and it was great to feed off each other’s energy and passion for purpose in Give Your Sole. We met some incredible people throughout the weekend. Some believed so deeply in what we were doing, they asked to wear a Give Your Sole t-shirt during their run of the marathon on Sunday.

Lunch with Team World Vision – Comrades in training, a heartfelt driven group of individuals whose compassion and cause goes beyond words.

Saturday morning we were able to meet with Brenda again and her husband Tony Carter through a retracing of steps where they were both homeless over ten years ago, from the 7^th Avenue Bridge where hope was lost to the shoeless alley where hope was miraculously found.

It’s no wonder she is the ambassador of inspiration for Grand Canyon University, she has truly walked through many hardships and become a stronger individual because of these journeys.

While we’re on the subject of miracles, imagine if everyone that stopped by our expo booth on Friday, did so with a pledge to come back on Saturday with a few pairs of shoes to donate. Now imagine someone actually coming back with over thirty-five pairs. Thank you Robbie Sittman! A perfect lead into the marathon on Sunday, early morning – chill in the air, a grand setting for a “giving” day. Charity does not discriminate; neither does misfortune, homelessness, hope or guidance. This is what was shown to us throughout the weekend. Our gratitude goes out to all those who donated. After the race ended and over 500 shoes were gathered, it was time to call it a day. We were privileged to one more gift before leaving though, Brett noticed three big bags of runners clothes near a dumpster that were collected and left for trash. Certainly ten loads of wash would be worth the effort in picking them up to be donated with the collected shoes!

I met Nicole Pena, Shawn McCullam and Brenda at the Phoenix Rescue Mission on Tuesday to take part in giving the shoes to those in need. Though most of the recipients were a bit shy to the video camera, the images of gratitude they left with me will far outreach any words they might have spoken.

After all, isn’t integrity doing what’s right when no one is looking or more importantly when one needs no proof of what has been done.

Running 13.1 at Venice Beach! What could be better!

We are excited to be participating in the Inaugural 13.1 Marathon Los Angeles event taking place January 10th, 2010.  This event is to be a sure hit since US Road Sports & Entertainment Group are behind it.  US Road Sports & Entertainment Group are also known for the ING Miami Marathon, ING Georgia Marathon and the Chicago Half Marathon.  They are kicking off 2010 with one of eight 13.1 Marathon races taking place from Los Angeles to Fort Lauderdale.

Not only is this going to be a great race series but to make it even better World Vision is the major charity sponsor for the series. We will be sharing booth space with Team World Vision near the finish line area on race day, January 10th from 6am-2pm where we will be collecting shoes.  We recommend that you either check the shoes you want to donate at bag check at the beginning of the race and pick them up when you finish or have someone who is there to cheer you on bring them to our booth.  For runners who want to donate the shoes you run in right off your feet we will give you a FREE pair of Give Your Sole flip flops (while supplies last) so you won’t go away barefoot!

All the shoes we collect will be donated to help those in need at the Union Rescue Mission.  The Union Rescue Mission (URM) is one of the largest missions of its kind in America–bringing help and hope to homeless and desperately poor men, women, and children of downtown Los Angeles.  In L.A., there are up to 142,000 men, women and children who are homeless over the course of a year and up to 74,000 people are homeless each night in Los Angeles County. URM provides many services from Emergency Assistance to their Hope Gardens Family Center which has a long track record of success in stabilizing and returning broken families to society.

So if you are running this event for a cause or not you can be sure that when you finish there will be one waiting for you ready to take your shoes.  Join us in working to provide those in need with as many shoes possible.