"Share Our Soles" (S.O.S.)

Too many underprivileged youth growing up in Third World countries and inner cities don't have shoes. When just trying to acquire basic necessities like clean water and shelter is a challenge, it is understandable that shoes may not be a top priority; yet shoes are incredibly important for so many reasons. First of all, shoes help protect us from toxins and diseases that can enter our bodies through the soles of our feet. Shoes also help us travel places we might not be able to reach otherwise -- including schools and medical facilities. Third, running and athletic shoes can give us the opportunity to play more sports and receive the ensuing benefits, like improved health and new friendships. The following example highlights the problem we are working to solve: many people in Liberia have to share shoes because there are not enough of them to go around. For those of us who are fortunate to have so much, it is our duty to give back to those in need -- with a gift as simple and yet powerful as shoes, we can help the world take a step in the right direction.