Fit Runners Donate to Running Fit

Running Fit staff helped collect hundreds of shoes

Allan hauled boxes filled with shoes to the delivery van

Who knew there were so many types of running shoes? I think we saw every style ever made as we helped with a shoe drive at the Running Fit store in Ann Arbor. Randy and Steve and the rest of the staff did a great job getting their customers to bring gently used shoes to the store. Within a two hour period, we had over 350 pairs of shoes! We were so impressed with the friendliness of all the customers. Everyone stopped to talk about Soles4Souls and seemed genuinely interested in helping recycle shoes and get them to people in over 110 countries. One gentleman brought in a pair of shoes that belonged to his deceased son. I assured him those shoes would change the life of a person in need of shoes.

I couldn’t help notice several parents coming in with their teenage children who were also involved in running. In each case, the teenagers were articulate, friendly and “non-pouty”. Could there be a link between “positive” teens and being outside in the fresh air getting exercise? Seems like it is in Ann Arbor. Allan and I came away from Running Fit feeling exhilarated about the generosity from all the people we met. OK, we also felt a little intimidated by all the physically fit people we met. Tomorrow we step up our exercise plan!

St Clair Shores Foot Solutions Keeps Everyone Busy

Looking for a way to exercise while doing good? Then just stop by at a shoe drive sponsored by  Foot Solutions in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Joe and Diane Dyament, along with their staff, organized a highly successful community shoe collection. We all got exercise as we tried to keep up with the steady flow of customers driving by and dropping off shoes. Everyone chipped in to carry boxes and bags full of shoes to the Soles4Souls RV. At times there was a line-up of cars as people waited to get into the parking lot. We just turned the event into a “Drive By Shoe Drop Off” and took shoes from the cars so people didn’t even have to get out. Keri Richards from Grace Centers of Hope also assisted by letting people know that some of their shoes would be donated to the local shelter. Time seemed to fly by as we kept moving  and collecting shoes. By the end of the afternoon, the store had 849 pairs of shoes that will go to people in need!

Joe and Diane with their "Super Volunteer" son, Brendan

Some people even rode bikes to donate shoes!