Word to the Website

Do you know what this is a picture of?

Two people totally engrossed in their mobile devices...no...two very yummy Starbucks drinks...well, yes-but that is not what I was getting at.  Two rock stars with Sole Hope...yeah, but that's not it either.

It is a picture of hope scribbled out on paper.  We want you to catch the vision we have here at Sole Hope...and we want you to feel just as passionately about it as we do because together we can impact many.  This past week a few of the Sole Hope board met with a brilliant woman to discuss our vision and mission.  What do we want you to know...what are we all about and how do we express that clearly?  

All of this is for our new website that will make its debut in just a few short weeks thanks to Scullytown!  Brace yourselves because it is fantastic!  

Zambia Update May 2011

It is  glorious day when we get an update with photographs from our workers in Africa!  Today we received an email from Zambia.  The ladies are working hard and doing a wonderful job!

John (below) is guiding and directing the ladies in their sewing.  Doesn't he look spiffy in his suit?  He is very proud of his job and takes it seriously.  Behind him you can see all the uppers they have sewn.  They just got an industrial sewing machine this month so they can now start to sew the uppers to the soles.

I cannot tell you how proud I am of these men and women.  They inspire me!  

Chocolate and Shoes

This week some of the Sole Hope team members attended the DOCICA launch party at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge.  We had a great time with over 75 Sole Hope and DOCICA supporters.  Not to mention there was free chocolate for the guests of the party thanks to DOCICA!

Men and women cut out shoes and I had a chance to speak about Sole Hope.  It was a wonderful time...so wonderful that several of us stayed until midnight when the party ended at 10:30pm.

One new and exciting opportunity Sole Hope will now have available at every shoe cutting party are these donation pins.  For $10 you can put a pair of shoes on a child and with your donation you get this pin to remind you or give to a friend.

Thank you for all of the encouragement we received, for the donations made and for helping us spread the word.  Sole Hope would not be possible without the support of those who see the need is giving a child without a voice a chance at a healthier life and adults without hope a future.  Thank you also to Jen and Mel (below) of DOCICA for this amazing opportunity!

Check out this video...

Sole Hope in California

This week Sole Hope is in southern California via High Wright.  We are working with homeless & rescue shelters around the U.S. to start Sole Hope shoemaking businesses.  Hugh is meeting with directors from across the nation to talk about how we can work together and partner to change lives here in America, while also changing lives in other impoverished and forgotten communities around the world.  Here are some phone pictures of the Sole Hope table.  

 Hugh showed some of our different shoes and patterns.

Thank you Hugh for your tireless dedication to Sole Hope and for all the ways you help with your hands and your heart!  

Shoe Cutting and Chocolate

The DOCICA magazine is throwing an awesome launch party tomorrow, May 24th at the French Broad Chocolate Lounge on Lexington Street.

Join us!  RSVP by CLICKING HERE.

A word from DOCICA:

chocolate. friends. sole hope....too awesome. Join as we celebrate our Premier Issue and help out SOLE HOPE by cutting out shoe uppers for orphans in Uganda & Zambia!!! Please bring an old pair of jeans (grab 'em at GOODWILL if you need to) & pinking shears (if you got em). Bring a friend and be entered doubly into our next contest. Check out the chocolate lounges menu at www.frenchbroadchocolates.com Time Tuesday, May 24 · 7:30pm - 10:30pm Location French Broad Chocolate Lounge 10 S. Lexington Asheville, North Carolina

PS

PS

Friday was a couple days ago...remember what happens on Fridays in May?  A new issue of DOCICA comes out!  This issue is about Sole Hope & a huge passion of mine... clothing for a cause!  Check it out...then go buy some baby shoes if you live near Asheville. :)

Second Installment: Docica Magazine

It's Friday in May so you know what that means?  Another installment of Sole Hope via Asher Collie in Docica Magazine!  Check it out.  And if you have not read all about this super awesome magazine go to their website and read all about why its called DOCICA.

You will also get a peak inside the Collie's home...

What an honor.  This month Sole Hope was featured in an online magazine, Docica.  

To read the article and see pictures click here!

Watch This

This group organized by local teens gets involved...watch below.

Fruit of the Spirit - Sole Hope Shoe Cutting from jason garris on Vimeo.

To have a party like this of your own contact our shoe cutting expert, Ginger Frank at 

1-855-516-HOPE extension 708

Students for Sole Hope

One of the best things about having something you are passionate about is having others become passionate about it with you.  After an interview on WLOS news in Asheville I was contacted by Haywood Community College's Entrepreneurial class.  They asked if I would donate my time to come talk about Sole Hope and how we got started.  It was my pleasure.  At the end of the class they spent some time time cutting out shoes and we talked about the benefit to children wearing shoes and widows having jobs.  After I left Sole Hope did not leave the classroom.  I was contacted a few weeks later with this blog...www.studentsforsolehope.blogspot.com

If you want to view the blog they made to document their process of raising awareness check out.

Lack of awareness these days is no longer an issue.  We have become compassion fatigued.  I love when I meet people like I did at Haywood Community College.  They participated in finding a remedy by helping us raise awareness and money.  (To see how they helped us raise money check out the blog above.)

Let this inspire you to gather a group, involve your family or do something on your own to make a difference.