Amazing Support And Success

To the Editor:

We have had amazing support and success in the Soles 4 Souls shoe drive in Newtown! At the conclusion of our second week, I am thrilled to report that we have already collected over 3,000 pairs of shoes — and the donations continue to pour in. A very special thanks to Thomas Haynes, president of Haynes Materials, for collaborating with us in Newtown by having drop boxes in their Oxford, Deep River, and Torrington masonry stores, Curtis Packaging for donating packing boxes, all of the volunteers who have helped collect and organize shoes, and the Newtown community for all of your donations. We are truly overwhelmed by the out pour of generosity from this community! Keep them coming!

In fact, are you looking for a way to celebrate Earth Day this year? Did you know that Soles 4 Souls estimates that Americans discarded 300 million pairs or shoes last year alone? When these shoes break down in our landfills, the toxic glue that holds the shoes together can leak into our water supply and atmosphere. However, you can help! Let us consider “going green” with Soles 4 Souls by recycling our gently worn shoes. Let us encourage our friends and family members, our churches and youth groups, our co-workers and neighbors — to donate their shoes to those in greater need. This year, let us take good care of each other, and the Earth, in the same day.

 As a community service effort for their third and fourth graders, the Sandy Hook Schools Project Eagle Group will have a Soles 4 Souls drop box at their Earth Day table this year, Saturday, April 28, at the Newtown Middle School from 10 am to 4 pm. We will, of course, continue to pick up donations from all of our drop box locations including The Newtown Bee, Newtown Youth Academy, Masonicare of Newtown, all Newtown Schools (excluding NHS), and all Haynes Material store locations. The shoe drive will be extended an extra week and will now run until May 7.

I want to urge that none of this would be possible without the support of our incredible community. Thank you for your continued generosity.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  —Margaret Mead

Thanks!

Pam McLaughlin

15 Reservoir Road, Newtown                                            April 3, 2012