Soles4Souls
Blue Spruce Kiwanis Club Collects Over 30,000 Pairs of Shoes
From the Soles4Souls Blog, OCTOBER 4, 2021
For three consecutive years, the Blue Spruce Kiwanis Club of Evergreen, Colorado has completed a Ten2Give drive, in total collecting over 30,000 pairs of shoes for Soles4Souls. The on-going shoe drive has been a major effort for the Evergreen Mountain community, involving the elementary schools, Key Club students in high school, thrift stores, banks, and other local businesses.
“Blue Spruce Kiwanis has become known as the Shoe Club! I personally have become known as the Shoe Lady,” said Kristy Tolan, President.
The Soles4Souls’ Ten2Give a program is designed to encourage volunteers to participate in both parts of our mission by hosting a shoe drive to impact the lives of people around the globe and in their local community. When an individual or group collects 10,000 pairs of used shoes, they help create sustainable job opportunities in developing nations. Once the drive is complete, the group chooses a local non-profit and works with Soles4Souls to organize a free distribution of brand new shoes to those in their community!
Initially the club set out to do the drive so they could give back to families in need in their own community, particularly through a local food bank. That first service project turned into an on-going initiative for the club, and they don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
“It is an absolute pleasure to work alongside the Blue Spruce Kiwanis Club of Evergreen, Colorado. Lead by President Kristy Tolan, BSK has dedicated their club’s mission to providing for others. I am in awe and in gratitude for their service and the highest level of passion and energy towards Soles4Souls,” said Emory Dinner, Director of Colorado Operations.
With plans to distribute new shoes around the holidays this year, the club plans to continue their efforts in collecting. If you’re in Colorado and want to participate, you can learn more about their drive here.
“I love the fact that I can keep the shoes out of the landfill and I get to help families around the world while doing so,” said Kristy.
The 30,000 pairs Blue Spruce Kiwanis Club has collected equates to keeping 37,500 pounds of textiles out of landfills, and provides a full year of food, shelter, and education for 43 families.
To start your own shoe drive, register here.
Our International Service Project
Soles4Souls creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes around the world. Since 2006, they have distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries and all 50 of the United States.
Soles4Souls fights global poverty in two meaningful ways:
Free Distribution: New shoes donated by retailers and manufacturers help prevent debilitating diseases, allow children to attend school, and offer hope and dignity to those in need around the world.
Job Creation: Soles4Souls helps those devastated by poverty sustain small businesses through a microenterprise program. Volunteer and partners donate repurposed shoes that Soles4Souls sells to entrepreneurs in developing nations, creating a sustainable social enterprise model.
How You Can Help
Blue Spruce Kiwanis is collecting used shoes of all kinds (yes, even flip-flops and ice skates!) at locations throughout the Evergreen area. Look for the big blue Soles4Souls collection boxes at the following locations:
Downtown Evergreen
Evergreen National Bank
Christ the King Church
South Evergreen
Evergreen Lutheran Church
North Evergreen
The Shipping Depot
US Bank (outside bank doors)
285/Conifer
Big R
