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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 26, 2009)—Soles4Souls Inc. will kick off its Barefoot Week 2009 next Monday, June 1. The international shoe charity dedicated to providing shoes to people in need will spend five days distributing more than 50,000 pairs of new shoes and collecting gently worn footwear during thousands of concurrent shoe drives at schools, churches and community centers.

“We want to invite people to join hundreds of thousands of Soles4Souls supporters around the world in participating in Barefoot Week,” says Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. “Anyone can make an important difference to someone in need by starting their own shoe drive, cleaning out their closet, sending us a new pair of shoes or making a simple cash donation.”

The non-profit organization will reach out to homeless youth and families in need in five American cities starting with Indianapolis, and followed by Atlanta, Birmingham, Ala., Los Angeles and Portland, Ore.

Celebrities will also show their support of the event and encourage strong participation with the charity’s programs. Scarlett Johansson, who previously donated 2,000 pairs of new shoes from her own line of Reebok footwear, is lending her name to help raise publicity, while other celebrities, such as Antawn Jamison, Jessica Simpson, Brittany Snow, Kellie Pickler, Luke Perry, Riddick Bowe, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Chris Hope, Jeff Fisher and Tim Dunn have also voiced their support for the weeklong series of events.

On Monday, June 1, Soles4Souls will be working with Wheeler Mission Ministries in Indianapolis to hand out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops to people served by the downtown mission.

Tuesday, June 2, the charity will work with Atlanta’s City of Refuge, a non-profit organization that offers both life-saving resources and life-building tools to individuals and families in Atlanta. Volunteers will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops.

On Wednesday, June 3, Soles4Souls will be working side-by-side with The Foundry, a Birmingham-area charity focused on rebuilding lives and restoring hope of recovering addicts, ex-inmates and the homeless. They will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops.

Thursday, June 4, Soles4Souls will be at the Midnight Mission in Los Angeles, working with thousands of homeless on Skid Row. The organization will be handing out 4,000 pairs of new shoes and 6,000 pairs of flip-flops.

On Friday, June 5, the non-profit organization will be working with local Portland, Ore., retailer Shoe Mill, as well as Adidas, to provide 5,000 pairs of new shoes and 3,000 pairs of new socks to the large homeless youth population and families living on the streets. The event will be held in the North Park Blocks (NW 8th and NW Everett Streets).

Finally, the week will conclude back in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 6. Soles4Souls will appear at the Los Angeles Mission to distribute 2,500 pairs of new shoes and 3,500 pairs of flip-flops to the needy people served during the annual Community BBQ sponsored by the Mission.

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