Trekking shoes

For those wondering what it's like to trek the shoes into our school, here are a few notes.

*Due to the mass amount of shoes donated over the summer, either a sherpa or a flat-bed dolly is required to trek the shoes to the PE office. 

*En route to the PE office, there are many staff members and teachers who inquire about the shoes, how many, and where they came from.

It goes a little something like this:

"WOW!!  Where did you get ALL of those shoes?"- teacher/staff member

"From the runners I run/work with."- me

"Really?  How often do they go through a pair of shoes?"- teacher/staff member

"It depends.  One pair every month-three months.  They're ultrarunners, remember."- me

"Holy .....!!!  They don't mind donating them?  They keep their shoes?"- teacher/staff member

"Yep.  They'd rather their shoes go somewhere where someone will appreicate them.  They always keep their shoes.  It's very difficult for them to part with them, so they are glad to give them to us."- me

And so the learning process and gratitude journey continues.

The conversations always end with, "Please tell them thank you for us!"

One of the most amazing things of trekking the shoes in are these conversations.  The teachers/staff grow that much more in their awareness, and the connections of support are increased.

Thanks to all who are a part of this!

It only takes One...!

It only takes one runner with shoes that he/she cannot part with and who decides to donate to Shoes to Success to fill up the back seat of my car!

I admit, my car is not huge, but still- it was a most amazing morning at the VHTRC Women's Half Marathon when a runner instructed me to drive to his car as he had so many shoes. 

Fortunately there was a bit of space left in the car for the other 8 pairs doanted by another runner.

The shoes will soon find homes en masse over the next few weeks with a variety of events at school. 

The genuine kindness of runners and athletes alike is a true testament to all that they are and all that is wondeful in the world!

Mil Gracias.

Simply Amazing!

Runners + shoes + hot, humid, awesome race with excellent post race fiesta + e-mails/web site information = Simply Amazing!!!

How else can you explain that of approximately 60 runners who started Cat's 50k**, 100(+) pairs of shoes were donated this morning.  Not all runners donated shoes, either! 

I'll let the pictures do fill you in.

Only some of the runners at the start of Cat's as they listen to RD Jeff talk about keeping hydrated, the course changes, aid station locations, and reminders to keep a look out for each other.  (All things common to these great runners!)

This is about 2/3 of the shoes that were donated.  They kept coming, and coming, and coming.  They filled much of my car!

Thank you to all who continue to help us to support students in our area!  You are changing lives forever with your awesome-ness!

Also- there's a chance that we'll be collecting shoes at Catoctin next weekend.  Please check back for more details.

**Number is not official.  It is based on visually ID'ing the runners at the start and the list on the Cat's website.

S2S thanks Jeff!

Jeff Reed, trail running guru of some sort and father to two beautiful twin girls, has graciously shared our shoe collection on the Cat's website next Saturday.  Yes, a friendly reminder to all trail runners in the area- signed up or not- it's the 24th of July- not the 17th!

A simple request to all volunteering or running at Cat's, if someone you know has extra shoes- would you please, please consider being a shoe-porter for them. 

Of course, best of luck, and here's to hoping that it will be a few degrees cooler next week!

S2S Seeks Small / Kid Sized Shoes!

We're looking for your help, your ideas, and your support!

We'd like to expand our shoe donation to elementary schools and/or be able to provide shoes to some of our more petite middle and high school students.  (Yes, we have students who are 4' or shorter in our school and we also have some that are 6'4" and beyond.)

If you are aware of any smaller adult, kid-sized shoes that are available for donations, please e-mail us!  We realize that there are probably sources out there, but we're not quite sure of all of the locations, people to talk to, etc..  Any ideas are welcome.  Again, just drop us a note, and we will happily get back to you!!

Muchas Gracias

S2S and a Surprise!

We received an e-mail that blew our shoes off!  It rivals Spain's winning the World Cup!!!! (Pardon our lack of diplomacy, but remember that Wendy is a Spanish teacher and once turned her green bedroom walls red with a flag that hung in her room!)

We were contacted by a member of a group that is not VHTRC about an initial donation of shoes and a possible partnership!  While we do not know who tipped this surprise e-mail person off about us, we do extend a HUGE thank you to the person...whoever he/she might be!!

Please know that each pair of shoes donated represents more health, more opportunities, more life-changing positive experiences for the youth of our community!  It also means less shoes in landfills and more smiles for all involved!

We simply cannot say thank you enough for all of the generosity of those in the Greater DC area and beyond ! 

Thank you for being our partner in success!

S2S will be at Catherine's FA (7/24/2010)

We'll be at the Start of Catherine's this year, happily accepting all shoes that are in re-usable condition for students.

Thank you for thinking of us before the run and festivities! 

If you have any questions- please contact Wendy!

S2S receives presents at Anstr's party!

On a hot, humid night in Northern Virginia, at a celebration of life for a key VHTRC founder, with phenomenal food and terrific food, Shoes to Success continued to reap the generosity of VHTRC runners!

Thank you to Lucia and to the other unknown contributor (bag was found later at MMT, after Wendy left). 

At the rate we are going, we might be able to provide shoes for 1/5 of our students by the start of the year!  Extras will find their way to students in other schools or those with the greatest needs.

Thank you all for being part of the great cycle of compassion and transformation:  runners with shoes, students with needs, and Earth who breathes easier as shoes are recycled instead of trashed!

S2S heads to Laurel Highlands Ultra (6/12/2010)

Shoes to Success will be collecting shoes at Laurel Highlands Ultra on Saturday (and possibly Sunday), 12/13 June 2010.

If you are running of LH or know of someone who is, please consider encouraging the runner(s) to donate any shoes at the finish line.  They will be shoe-ported back to VA by Joanne (a previous S2S contributor and LH runner).

Thank you to Rick Freeman, LH RD, for his support of Shoes to Success!  In the small world of running and helping students, it was recently learned that Rick and Wendy graduated from the same high school many years apart.  Go Blackhawks! 

Best Wishes to all runners this weekend at Laurel Highlands and at all other runs and races!

Thanks Laura!

What can make 2 middle school teachers scream with delight when there are many full days of school remaining, many final exams to be taken and graded, and many events happening in both classrooms requiring immense flexibility and patience?

This!

8+ pairs of shoes for amazing students in need and a very kind note!

Muchas Gracias.

S2S's Contributors

Shoes to Success's contributors have historically been located in the Northern Virginia area.  Many are teachers at the school where Carol and Wendy teach, and others are relatives and friends of the teachers. 

A large majority of the shoes have been donated by runners affiliated with VHTRC (Virginia Happy Trails Running Club) which hosts three main races:  Bull Run Run 50 miler in April, Massanutten Mountain Trails 100 miler in May, and the Women's Half Marathon in September- along with a number of other "unofficial" races and runs on the fabulous trails of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

One of the trails on which many of the contributors' shoes have spent many hours running.

S2S's Shoe Journey

The journey of a pair of shoes donated to Shoes to Success goes something like this:

• Active person with enough money to pay for running shoes purchases a pair of shoes. 
• Same person runs in shoes for a period of time, often completing many long runs and/or races, and thoroughly enjoying the shoes (we hope!).
• Runner decides that the shoes are no longer in the excellent condition that they were in when they were purchased, but still have much life left in them.
• Runner may choose to hold onto the shoes for a period of time, wondering what to do with them, as many shoes hold many memories of wonderful times running.
• Runner somehow learns about Shoes to Success and the connection is made.
• Runner cleans the shoes and coordinates their delivery to Wendy.
• Wendy picks up shoes from a myriad of locations and takes them to Carol.
• Carol and Wendy work with the Guidance Department to coordinate the delivery of the shoes to the student in most need.
• Shoes are delivered in a respectful and encouraging meeting to a grateful student.

And so another pair of "still living" shoes allows another student in Northern Virginia to be a bit healthier and active.

S2S's Students

Shoes to Success's students come from a variety of backgrounds, and all share one common factor:  a need for shoes.  They are identified through many different avenues (teacher observation and meetings, guidance counselors, PE teacher meetings, administration, etc.) with the goal of supporting each student.

Many students have expressed comments such as, "my mom said I could get a new pair when she got her income tax refund."  Others have shared more personal details about the situation in which they currently live, and how it is impacting their life and health.

As the middle school years pose a unique set of developmental and peer realities, all shoe donations are given with the focus on maintaining the student's dignity at all times.

Each student's smile fuels the search for more shoes to help more students.

S2S's Origins and Beyond

Shoes to Success is the result of two middle school teachers recognizing the needs of their students while seeking the missing piece to support the health, wellness, and athletic endeavors of the students.

Carol (Health and Physical Education teacher) began the program which accepts donations of new and gently used athletic shoes which are then given to students whose parents are unable to afford them.  The students are selected with the support of the Guidance Department.

Wendy (Spanish teacher) learned of the program from a flier posted by Carol on the staff bulletin board, and then began to run with it-- literally.  Carol and Wendy held a school fundraiser to support the program as Wendy ran through Patagonia while the students tracked her progress by running around the gym. 

Wendy then began actively enlisting the support of the Northern Virginia running community for donations-- specifcally the Virginia Happy Trails Running Club with whom she volunteers.  As a result of Wendy's work, she was honored by the VHTRC with the James Moore Award in February 2010.  The award honors members for their "outstanding service to the community."

Shoes to Success gratefully accepts donations of clean, gently used (or "with life remaining") shoes from those who feel inclined to donate. Many contributors have stated that they have been "waiting to donate (their) shoes to a program like this."

Each pair of shoes allows a middle school student to take another forward step on his/her journey toward health, wellness, and athletic excellence.

For more information about donating, please click on the donations page.

Thank you, gracias, shokriya, cam on, blagodariya, spaas, tak, takk fyrir, Mulţumesc, 谢谢, shokrun, or kun, hvala, danke, dziękuję, asante, shnorhakalutiun, obrigado, grazie, spasibo, mahalo