Red Wing Shoe Company, which has been manufacturing work boots for one hundred years, has recently donated 12,000 pairs of high quality Red Wing footwear to Soles4Souls Inc, the international shoe charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in need.
The majority of these Red Wing shoes are designated for the annual Thanksgiving Program called "Our Hearts to Your Soles," which was founded in 2004 by Pittsburgh teenagers Matt and Laura Conti. They are the children of Dr. Stephen Conti, an ankle and foot surgeon at
Allegheny General Hospital.
During Thanksgiving Week 2008, Soles4Souls, in partnership with Hearts to Soles, will provide new boots, socks and medical screenings from foot doctors for over 3,000 homeless men in 35 states.
What: Red Wing shoe distribution 100 pairs to homeless
men, including medical foot screening and proper shoe sizing
When:Thursday, November 27 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: The Healing Place
1020 W. Market Street
WHO: Dr. George E. Quill, Jr., foot and ankle surgeon
Shane Hyman of Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics
"We are so thankful for Dr. George E. Quill, Jr. and The Healing Place for reaching out to people to provide a vital service that helps make an immediate impact on people in a great time of need," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls. "A pair of durable boots can fill a person with hope and confidence. It's a major step towards employment
and building self-esteem," he said.
George Quill, Jr., M.D. is our region's first fellowship trained
orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon and has had a volunteer relationship
with The Healing Place for years. Dr. Quill and Shane Hyman of Hanger
Prosthetics and Orthotics will provide free foot screenings and sizing
for the 100 pairs of free Red Wing shoes to be distributed from The
Healing Place on Thanksgiving Day.
The Hearts to Soles distribution is set for Thursday, November 27, 2008
at 11:00 a.m. at The Healing Place, 1020 West Market Street. This time
also coincides with the shelter's serving a Thanksgiving meal, which
will run until 5:00 p.m.
