For a limited time starting on April 1, Soles4Souls and Seminole Casino Hollywood — located across Stirling Road from the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel at 4150 North State Road 7 — will collect gently worn footwear to ship to victims of natural disasters or people living in extreme poverty. The casino is offering $10 in free casino play to anyone who donates.
“As an incentive, we’re giving away free play on our 1100 state-of-the-art slot machines to anyone willing to bring in their gently worn shoes that are taking up space in their closet anyway. With the earthquakes in Japan and Haiti, and all the other strife in the world right now, it’s the least we all can do to help the less fortunate,” said Robert Dearstine, Seminole Casino Hollywood director of marketing.
It’s estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unused shoes in their closets. The charity can use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone’s life. Every seven seconds, Soles4Souls® Inc. gives away another pair of shoes to someone in need. The shoe charity has earned glowing endorsements from Hollywood stars and professional athletes, but the people that truly make the non-profit organization effective are those who clean out their closets to personally drop off their ‘gently worn’ shoes at a participating location, such as Seminole Casino Hollywood.
“We need our partners in South Florida to get behind our call for action. It’s one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times,” said founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Wayne Elsey.
People and companies interested in donating can also visit the organization’s website at www.giveshoes.org.