SoleMates Foundation: Helping Feet in Need

July, 17, 2011 , by Jedidiah

KinderSoles is a socially responsible company based in Garner, NC that has been making flip flops from recycled bottles since 2010. The company's goal is to help those in need around the world by donating one pair of shoes for each pair they sale. For these donations, Kinder Soles had partnered with multiple organizations to help others in need. But, Kinder Soles co-founder Mark Saad had a realization that this wasn't enough for his company to help those in need across the world. Saad changed his focus on his home turf and developed a new direction for his new company with the help of Chris Bingham, President and Chief Passion Officer of Riley Life Logistics, a certified B Corporation.

That's where SoleMates Foundation comes in. SoleMates is a non-profit organization that picks up the donation aspect of Kinder Soles but in a different way. Each purchase of a pair of KinderSoles eco-friendly flip flops will provide the funding to send shoes to up to five people. Riley Life will handle the logistics for SoleMates by storing, organizing, prepping, and shipping out all of the donated shoes to those in need. This focus on the local rather than the global scale keeps the company's carbon foot-print much lower. The company aims to keep as many shoes out of landfills and onto any feet in need as possible.

The foundation will gather new and gently worn shoes and provide them to those who are in need all across the United States. SoleMates will work closely with church groups and local organizations all across the country to identify regions that are in need. When shoes are donated they are assessed, sorted and then shipped out to the regions according to functionality needs, such as boots and sneakers to locations in the north and flip flops and sandals to locations in the south.

SoleMates will be sponsoring a shoe donation for the entire month of August with the goal to get shoes on 5,000 feet (2,500 pairs of shoes). There will be multiple events to help raise awareness and various places for you to drop your shoes off around the area. New Raleigh will be working in connection with SoleMates and Tir Na Nog for his donation drive and we will give you more information on that in the very new future.

In the meantime, if you'd like to help out or volunteer for SoleMates, check out more information at their webpage or email them at info@kindersoles.com