Shoe Cutting Party with Miss Asheville

If you've known about Sole Hope for a while then you probably have heard of our shoe cutting parties.  These take place all over the country and are a way for students, churches, businesses, communities and the like to have take part in making a difference in Africa.

Alyssa Scully volunteering on behalf of Sole Hope and Brittney Clark 

Brittney Clark cutting out shoes for Africa

These gatherings are fun and can can be tailored to the group that is getting together.  We heard from Miss Asheville a few months ago and she asked us if she could do a shoe cutting party at a college here in Asheville.  She has a huge heart and we liked her excitement in getting involved.  The shoes that were cut out that day were then taken with the Sole Hope team in March to Africa!

Those uppers are then used in the training process for the African men and women who are learning a new trade.  Once the shoes are sewn together in Africa they are handed out to children in the village.

Holding a shoe cutting party is a fun way to help Sole Hope!  If you are interested in doing this please email info@solehope.com and our coordinator will get you details.

Meet Patrick Scully

I've said in previous posts I would feature one board member every now and then.  Today I would like to tell you about Patrick Scully.  He is the vice chair of Sole Hope and owns Scullytown.  There are a few words that describe Patrick accurately and I think everyone who knows him would agree there are a couple things that just stand about him.

Patrick is a creative genius, business dude (not a "business man"...that would require a tie and I don't think I'll ever see Patrick in a tie) who is passionate about a few things in life!  In no certain order his passions would include (in my humble opinion) God, his family, Scullytown, Sole Hope, Crossfit and coffee.

  He was so ready to learn how to make the Sole Hope shoes for himself.  In fact, the pair on this little boy Joshua's feet were made by Patrick a couple weeks before we left.  

I love the perspective Patrick brings to the Sole Hope group...he is a leader but is also humble enough to be led.  After taking a trip with him to Africa I can honestly say it is our pleasure to have him on the Sole Hope team!  His wife, Alyssa is equally as awesome...I'll have to write about her next time.  I cannot say enough wonderful things about Patrick so I'll just share some pictures with you... 

Above: this is the Sole Hope Uganda team.  Patrick is in the middle back row with another board member of ours, Hugh Wright.  Holly and I are the two slightly less tan people in the front row.  ;)

I only knew the working Patrick for the first five years I knew him... (P-please don't kill me for showing this) but don't let him fool you.  This man can be c-c-crazy!  Here he is riding a bike in Uganda with our African brothers Moses and Zziwa.  

Patrick's heart was stolen by the children in Uganda and Zambia!  His world was rocked and he was forever changed on the March 2011 trip with Sole Hope.  

Shirt Design Contest

We need a new super sweet shirt design.  If you win our shirt design contest you win a shirt with your design and $150!  This shirt will make its debut at Bele Chere in July.  

Please share this link with the world!  You can use the easy share buttons right below!  Or, you can swipe the shirt contest image above and post on your blog.

One Year Ago Today

One year ago today I had shared these sentiments from my heart with my Sole Hope supporters.  After a full day of Sole Hope meetings to improve our website, video, launch shoe sales in the U.S., and improve the overall impact of Sole Hope in the U.S. and abroad I am very aware of the strides toward HOPE that have been made in one year.  I am blown away when I think about how Sole Hope has touched and really changed the lives of hundreds already.  Without further delay, my reflection from last year.

-Asher Collie

I’m thinking of those babies tonight that go to sleep on a hard mud floor.  Hoping that because they know nothing different they will feel comfort and warmth tonight.

I’m thinking of those wives who have lost their one true love, who are now left to care for children…some that are not even their own.

I’m praying tonight for the little souls that will wake in the morning to a bright new sun, believing they will feel hope and happiness deep down in their hearts.

I’m thinking of my friend on the street who has found a home tonight.  As he settles into his new home with the help of his “brothers” and “sisters” this afternoon, I pray he will find peace in all circumstances.

I’m mourning the loss of the two children that slept securely upstairs for half a year.  Desiring a new day for them tomorrow where they feel like they belong in their new home…where they feel loved.

Please don’t forget those who are out of your sight, they need YOU like you wouldn’t believe.

A Quickened Pace

Sole Hope has been growing at a quickened pace.  It is a good issue to have.  Every day we are making decisions that will impact our future and the futures of thousands of others-and we make every decision with that in mind.  It has been a while since I posted, I thought I would give a quick update on what the Sole Hope team has been up to.  

• Scullytown is designing a new, and completely killer website for Sole Hope.  So long to our homemade one...you will be able to see details on each of our programs, learn all about Sole Hope and how we got started, get to know the Sole Hope team, learn about the man or woman that made your shoes and SO much more.  Oh, and you can view it on your iPhone, just in case you're sitting chatting about Sole Hope to your friends while you're out and about and want to show them what we are all about! (There will be tons more wonderful things about our website...you'll just have to wait and see)
• Speaking of shoes, we are working on getting shoes made here in the U.S. to be sold in the U.S. one for one.  So, for every pair you buy, we donate a pair to a child in need.  This has been a long time coming and something we get multiple requests for every month.  Soon, very soon.
• An adult Sole Hope shoe is on its way.  We are working hard to create the perfect shoe for you, your friends, your neighbors and your neighbors neighbors.  It is going to be splendid-and we can't wait to show you what it looks like!
• We are working to launch our African headquarters in Uganda.  This is a huge step in being able to better serve our programs in Africa while they get their feet off the ground and start their self sustaining businesses.
• We are working hard to get the word out about how extremely important it is that children have shoes to wear.  By doing this we hope to create awareness that evokes a response.  We want to partner with businesses, individuals and others that want to buy shoes for the villages in Uganda and Zambia in bulk.  This will create jobs in their local economy (shoe making) and will put shoes on children.  No child deserves to walk around with jigger infested feet-yet it happens every day!

(Jigger infestation from the village we were just in, in Uganda)

If you are interested in sponsoring some feet, or know someone who runs a business and might want to-please tell them about us or click the donate tab on the right side of this blog and in your notes tell us how many shoes you are donating.

Sponsoring Feet Through A Pair of Sole Hope Shoes

225 pairs and up—$5/pair

125-200 pairs—$7/pair

25-100 pairs—$10/pair

25 pairs—$15/pair 

There is so much more I will share about later.  There is change coming to village upon village and city upon city because of the efforts of so many in America.  Your donations are changing lives and the time and effort spent spreading the word about Sole Hope is deeply appreciated.

-Asher Collie