Posted on August 26, 2009

Hope Delivered To North Carolina Families
Raleigh, NC (August 26, 2009)-thousands of children in the state of North Carolina will receive a free pair of shoes as part of Lt. Governor Walter Dalton’s partnership with Samaritan’s Feet.
Thousands of North Carolina residents will have their feet washed, given a new pair of shoes, and touched with a message of hope through a partnership between Samaritan’s Feet, Finish Line and North Carolina Governmental Departments that work with families in need.
Lt. Governor Dalton’s partnership is part of an overall program that Samaritan’s Feet has with Finish Line stores across the country. Nearly 100,000 children will benefit from the “Sole Destination” Back to School Program at Finish Line stores. From July 6th through October 15, 2009 all Finish Line stores will be selling Samaritan’s Feet shoes to help offset the cost of providing free footwear for children around the country. Consumers will be encouraged to shop at any Finish Line store to buy Samaritan’s Feet shoes for $5.00, which will put a pair of shoes on a child’s feet. http://www.finishline.com/soledestination
Finish Line and Samaritan’s Feet have partnered with governors and lt. governors across the country. As a result, Samaritan’s Feet and Finish Line are providing thousands of pairs of free shoes to US residents. Governors and Lt. Governors from North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, West Virginia, Oklahoma, South Dakota and many others have shed their shoes to help put shoes on the feet of their families in their state by going barefoot during a regularly scheduled press conference.
On Wednesday, August 26th, North Carolina Lt. Governor Walter Dalton (pictured here with Samaritan's Feet Co-Founder Tracie Ohonme) attended a press conference in his bare feet to kick things off for the “Sole Destination” program.
Samaritan's Feet will partner with hundreds of volunteers to give these children a pair of shoes. The shoe distribution will take place at various locations throughout the state.
"I am so excited to be a part of this shoe distribution in our backyard,” said Manny Ohonme, Founder of Samaritan’s Feet. “It’s imperative that we all consider what our country is going through and give back to our own community. I am so proud of Lt. Governor Dalton and his office for using their platform as leaders to reach their constituency.”
“Going barefoot for residents in North Carolina is the least that I can do,” said Lt. Governor Walter Dalton. “I know that many families in North Carolina are struggling to make ends meet. I am excited that we have partnered with Samaritan’s Feet to make a difference in a state that I love and have served for many years.”
North Carolina residents are encouraged to go into any Finish Line location to help residents in their own state. The more money that is donated, the more shoes can be distributed to families in need. If churches are interested in helping Samaritan’s Feet with this huge endeavor, please contact Samaritan’s Feet at 704-341-1630. Or if anyone is interested in making a tax deductible gift to help put shoes on children’s feet, they can visit us at www.samaritansfeet.org
“When Finish Line kicked off Sole Destination last year, customers from across the country stepped up to help collect and distribute thousands of shoes to those in need,” said Derrick Walker, Finish Line Vice President of Marketing. “We are proud to extend another opportunity through our new partnership with Samaritan’s Feet. Our hope is that Sole Destination will not only bring newfound confidence and opportunity to the children we’re serving but will also inspire and motivate others to get involved.”