Gwinnett Residents to try to donate 1000 pairs of athletic shoes in the “Shoes For The Souls” marathon

Dacula, GA (May 27, 2009) - While reading a tennis magazine while watching his daughter ride her bike, Hamilton Mill resident Matt Hermes came upon an article about how people are “Going Green” in the tennis communities around the country. 

One of the articles focused on recycling slightly used tennis shoes and that the manufacturers of these shoes will accept donated shoes and recycle them into new shoes. 

“That got me to think about why not, instead of giving them to the manufacturer, we try to collect shoes and donate to those in need” Matt said. “I called my youngest daughter McClain (age 8) over to me and read her the article and asked her what she thought and she agreed that there are so many people that need shoes and we should do it. I asked her what we should call our efforts and after a few ideas we came up with ‘Shoes For The Souls’”. 

The donations will be accepted until June 30th and then distributed within a week or two after that.

The decision as to whom the shoes will be donated to is still in the works but the donated athletic shoes will more than likely stay in the Atlanta area unless there is a huge amount of donations.

“McClain thinks we can get over 2,000 pairs, which I think might be a little high, but if we can pull together as a community I think we might be able to make it happen. My guess is if we work hard a thousand pairs is possible” Hermes commented. McClain's brother Logan and sister Madeline are excited to also be participating. 

“McClain has already made a poster and put a large bucket for donations on the front porch of the home and through emails to friends, neighbors and the Hamilton Mill association website we already have over 100 pairs of shoes that are coming our way” said Carmen Hermes. “Everyone has an extra pair or two of athletic shoes that are lonely and looking for a new set of feet” Carmen added.

In the Hamilton Mill subdivision alone there are over 2,100 households and if they can collect a pair of shoes for every other home we can more than meet our goal, plus with the other friends and family we have in other areas of Atlanta , I think we can make it. 

The family is planning on keeping a weekly update on www.matthermes.com to let everyone know where they are in meeting the goal. If you would like to contribute, you can send an email to mhermes@diamonddwellings.com