Now through December 31st, drop by any of our ten outpatient physical therapy locations to donate your gently used, name brand athletic shoes, and receive a free t-shirt!*

*Limit 1 t-shirt per person; sizes available while supplies last. See below for shoe criteria.

As experts in physical therapy, we know that choosing the right shoes can make a big difference in your stability and movement. But for many people around the world, just having shoes is an important start to improve health.

Because there are germs in dirt that cause infections and diseases to our skin, footwear is an important barrier to protect health. This issue does not affect most of us because we have more than one pair of shoes, and we live in sanitary conditions. However, many countries use dirt roads and financial resources are scarce. – Project Sole

That’s why we are hosting a shoe drive for Project Sole – a recognized non-profit that distributes shoes to impoverished and disaster-stricken communities throughout the world.

Project Sole maintains three distinct criteria for shoes donated:

1. STYLE: The most versatile shoes are athletic based: running, basketball, soccer, cross-training, volleyball, skate shoes and hiking boots are the most needed because the preeminent support and durability. Shoes to avoid: any open-toed shoes or sandals, baseball/football cleats, high-heels

2. LIFE of the SHOE: Shoes can be stinky and worn, but no holes in the soles!

3. BRANDS: Name brand shoes have earned the reputation of being better built and more durable, thus allowing more wear for their second owner. That is why we limit the brands collected to major athletic brands similar to the following: Nike, Adidas, Asics, New Balance, Reebok, Converse, Sketchers, DC, and Puma.

Source: http://projectsole.org/about-us/shoe-needs/