By Meredith Hager, Soles4Souls
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Attention anyone with a closet: The shoes and clothing you no longer want are desperately needed to fight the human tragedy of global poverty.
The Clarks-Villain Roller Girls (CVRG) have launched a drive to collect shoes and clothing for those in need all over the world, while also raising money to support their roller derby team. Shoes and clothing can be dropped off at Clarksville Speedway during CVRG practices and at United Chiropractic during their business hours (see below for more information). The items that CVRG collects will be delivered to Soles4Souls, an international anti-poverty organization headquartered in Old Hickory, TN, and they will be given 15 cents per pound to help cover team operating costs.
Soles4Souls uses shoes and clothing to create sustainable jobs for people living in impoverished nations and to fund direct relief efforts, including distribution of new shoes and clothing. Most of the shoes and clothing will be distributed to microenterprise programs in places like Haiti, Ghana, and Costa Rica. The resulting revenue will help fund the free distribution of new shoes in the U.S. and overseas. Founded in 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 20 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries and all 50 states.
“The simple truth is that almost anyone with a closet has clothes they don’t wear, or an old pair of shoes that will just end up in a landfill,” said Jessica Van Cuyk, president of CVRG. “Give those to us, and know that you are taking a step to making the world a better place, and helping support your local roller derby team.”
CVRG used shoe and clothing drive for Soles4Souls information:
• Between June 11 and July 31, bring your used shoes of any kind to:
• Clarksville Speedway (1600 Needmore Road, entrance off of Boy Scout Rd.) M/W 6-8PM
• United Chiropractic (329 Warfield Blvd) M/W/F 8-12 and 2-6 T/TH 9-12
• For more information, please contact ClarksVillainFundraising@gmail.com