East Side Professional Organizers Plan to Change the World With Shoes

Four Professional Organizers from the East Side of Cleveland are planning a Sole Filling Event to gather unwanted shoes, sandals and sneakers to be donated to people in need all over the world, by filling a truck with shoes. Their local Chapter NAPO North Coast Ohio has set a goal of collecting 20,000 shoes between now and January 21st. This is all part of a national NAPO Challenge for GO (Get Organized) Month in January 2012.

Sole Filling Event
10:00 AM til Noon
Saturday, December 3rd
Hawken Middle School
5000 Clubside Road
(off Richmond between Mayfield and Cedar)
Lyndhurst, Ohio

JunkAway removal service has volunteered a 480 cubic foot truck, and "Our goal is to fill the truck with shoes," states JoEllen Salkin, one of the event's organizers. The shoes will then be taken to the JunkAway warehouse in Medina to await transport to the Soles4Souls Distribution Center in Alabama.

The four have been collecting shoes from friends, family and customers over the past month, and already have over 500 pair. They have now enlisted a number of other organizations to participate with them. Hawken's Upper, Middle and Lower Schools are all participating. Eric Kaesberg, a Junior from Cleveland Heights is leading the drive in the Upper School. He said "Hawken has a long history of helping people in need. Soles4Souls is a great opportunity for us to help children in other schools around the world." Mercer Elementary in Shaker Heights is also participating, and Solon's PTA donated 200 pairs that did not sell at their recent Budget Bin sale.

The four Professional Organizers are inviting the public to look in their closets for shoes they are no longer wearing, and bring them by on December 3rd. The group is hoping that this shoe drive will illustrate just how easy and rewarding it is to let go of something that you are no longer using, that would be so beneficial to others.

For more information contact:

• Patty Clair, keeping it simple at 216.214.3596
• Muffy Kaesberg, Organizing 4 U at 216.321.6126
• Nicole Lincoln, The Organized Ladybug at 440.840.1078
• JoEllen Salkin, Organizing 4 U at 440.498.1930

Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2005, Soles4Souls has delivered over 16 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 127 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. Soles4Souls has been featured in Runner's World, Ladies' Home Journal, National Geographic's Green Guide, and The New York Times. It has appeared on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, BBC, CNN and thousands of regional news outlets across North America. Soles4Souls is a 501(c)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. Anyone can join our cause, and we need your help.

Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide.

NAPO North Coast Ohio

The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) is The Organizing Authority® and the premier national association dedicated to the field of organizing. Since forming in 1985 as a nonprofit professional educational association, NAPO has grown to nearly 4,200 members.

The local NAPO Chapter's mission is to provide professional development and networking opportunities for member Professional Organizers, promote the professional organizing industry and develop associate partnerships.

The final day of the Chapter's shoe drive will be:

Noon to 3:00
Saturday, January 21, 2012
JunkAway Warehouse
1486 Medina Rd
Medina, Ohio

JunkAway

JunkAway is an item removal service located in Medina, and are the newest Associate Member of the NAPO North Coast Ohio. They help to give you back space in your home, garage, or office while recycling as many items as possible. They work with recycling companies and charitable organizations all over the area so your contributions help others. For more information please contact Paula Lewis at 1.855.855.5865.