Shoe drive 'Sole Purpose' for giving

Putting the soul back into old shoes is the driving force behind Sole Purpose. Sole Purpose, a program under the full backing of the Student Recreational Sports Association, is asking people to donate old shoes to give to the homeless. The collection, which started April 2, will continue throughout the summer. The bins are located at the Student Recreational Sports Center by the turnstiles. \nAccording to the Sole Purpose Web site, www.solepurpose.com, the program was started by a California woman, Kristina Radnoti, in February 2002. To date, more than 10,000 pairs of shoes have been donated nationwide.\nSenior Meghan Matuszak, co-relations director of Sole Purpose, thought of the idea because of her interest in running and a story about the program in Runner's World magazine, which inspired her to bring Sole Purpose to IU.\n"The University is a great setting which enables Sole Purpose to touch many people," Matuszak said.\nThe goals for the program at IU have been set and are on their way to being met.\n"Since April 2, we have collected 200 pairs of shoes," Matuszak said. "By the summer, we hopefully will get 500."\nMatuszak said the response for the program has been felt by community members outside the University. \n"There was a great response on the first family night at the SRSC. Other people who use the facilities besides students have been donating as well," Matuszak said. "People feel that it's such a great and creative idea to donate shoes and help a charitable cause."\nAccording to a press release, the shoes will be delivered to Martha's House, Inc., and Shalom Center, which provide support and shelter for the homeless.\nSenior Erin Sparks, president of the SRSA, is excited to bring an imaginative and giving program to IU.\n"Meghan came to the executive board two years ago with the idea, and we loved it," Sparks said. "We gave her the foresight and support to get the program up and running. The Sole Purpose's mission is compatible with SRSA's goals, too."\nSparks elaborated, saying the executive board and everyone who is involved, either by donating or running the program, is devoted to the cause.\n"Everyone is supportive and wants to help out," Sparks said. "Everyone is donating their old shoes. This is a great way to get people involved in the SRSA and to also build a good leadership." \nAs the program continues, efforts are being made to create additional drop-off boxes to increase the number of donations and awareness of the program. The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation is the next logical location for the new donation boxes, Recreational Sports Director Kathy Bayless said.\n"There definitely has been talk about community locations," Bayless said. "They want to work to get additional student input to increase the ease of drop-offs. Sole Purpose will be a sustained program of the SRSA." \n-- Contact staff writer Eric Tash at etash@indiana.edu.