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Health & Fitness

Riverview High School Seniors Enter onto World Stage

Let's teach our kids the value of service-learning this Saturday, Sept. 21st, from 9AM-2PM. Two Riverview HS seniors' shoe-drive will be set up, at the home of Prof. Marta Ockuly, 4334 Augustine Avenue. All shoes in any condition, please.

   "One Person's Trash Is Another's Treasure"

               Riverview High School students Robbie Walton and Greg Atkin are taking this platitude and placing it into action on the world stage. Walton and Atkin have been working to collect shoes, in any condition, as part of a service project. Your help is needed. These two seniors are working on a shoe-drive to collect 300 bags of 25 pairs of shoes—probably not for what you might think.
               No matter the size, style or condition of the shoes collected, they will be bagged and given to people in developing nations as a commodity. Some of these people make less than $1.00/day. For these people, your unwanted shoes may raise their income by 500%. Having any pair of shoes for poor families in developing nations can open education doorways and give people hope as well as income.
               These high school seniors will be youth collaborators at TEDx Sarasota 2013, which happens October 16th, where you may also donate unwanted shoes. According to Wiki: "TEDx Sarasota’s mission seeks to connect and collaborate. We’re interested in exploring with those who have broken from the chaos to find solutions, who find joy in the incongruous melody of contrast.” Tickets for the event are on sale now at www.tedxsarasota.com.

               You see, a micro-business model was created by Wayne Elsey, Founder and former CEO of Soles4Souls, a Nashville based charity that has collected over 19 million pairs of shoes from footwear companies and shoe drives, distributing them to people in need in over 129 countries. 

               A collection station will be set up this Saturday, September 21st, from 9AM-2PM, at the home of Professor Marta Ockuly at 4334 Augustine Avenue. The house is across the street from the Eagles Club on Wilkenson and will be holding a garage sale. 

Stop by with as many pairs of unwanted shoes that you can gather, and help these young people make a difference in the world!

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