What’s news at good soles?
At the end of this summer, we will be featuring the lives who have been touched by Good Soles on our new podcast!
If you would like to be part of the conversation, bringing awareness to our mission to end joblessness, please reach out at jeremy@good-soles.com
Our Story
While driving on a routine type day in August 2016, I was waiting at a stop light to enter the outer loop of 277 near downtown Charlotte. There was no way I could have known that my life and my way of thinking would dramatically change in a moment. At the light, I met a man named Charles. Charles was begging on the median for spare change. I had no money. I happened to look at his feet and noticed his shoes. They had holes in them and were badly worn. I happened to have a pair of Nike basketball shoes that I had worn only a handful of times during our recent church basketball league. Without a second thought, I realized this man needed new shoes. I know now that this was a true sign from God!
What Size Shoes?
I called Charles over to my window and asked him what size shoe he wore, he answered "11". I told him "I have a pair of twelves, do you want them?" He then said "Are you sure? I told him I was sure. He replied"Yes, I'll make them work!" So we traded shoes right there on the street and exchanged "thank you's" and "God bless you". After I drove off, I could not stop thinking about how I could help more who needed proper shoes. I fervently prayed and ask God to give me direction. Several ideas came to my mind. The first was buying a few pairs of shoes each month and giving them out to needy people that crossed my path. Something kept prodding at my mind and at my heart, that more could be done to help unfortunate people other than a few pair of shoes here and there.
Good Soles Was Born
Finally, after doing some research, I realized while working in my professional job as a General Manager for a commercial cleaning company that steel toe boots were in high demand. For safety reasons construction companies and many distribution centers are requiring steel toe boots. That’s when Good Soles was born. I was so afraid to share this idea with people because I am not a person who usually comes up with great ideas. With my faith in God and knowing he is with me always, I finally shared this idea with my girlfriend and one of her friends. They loved the idea and said I should definitely keep looking into the ministry. Then I shared with our youth leader at Myers Park UMC and he loved it. So, we prayed over the idea.
The more I shared the more my passion grew and the more I knew this was something that our Charlotte community needed! Over the past five years, Good Soles has provided over 6500 pairs of steel toed boots and non slip work shoes to RunningWorks, Roof Above, The Relatives, 5th Street Ministries, Community Matters Cafe, Charlotte Rescue Mission, Hope Haven, Promise Resource Network, Wayne Brothers Construction pre apprentice program (which provides steel toe boots to students in the Kannapolis school system) and various other awesome individuals doing work in our Charlotte community.
“Look not just on your own interests but also look to the interests of others.”
Mission Verse - Philippians 2 Verse 4
The message of this verse resonates with Good Soles because it talks about how we should all look to help others along their paths. No one can accomplish their goals without the help of others. So, we should all look out for how we can help our neighbors no matter how big or small the gesture.
Get Involved
Good Soles started because of a random act of kindness. It can happen anywhere, anytime, or anyplace if you are open to seeing the signs in front of you. We may not always act but it only takes one time to make a difference in someone’s life! Through Good Soles we have given and will continue to give opportunities to our neighbors in need. It is because of your gifts that Good Soles has been able to provide so many steel toe boots and nonslip shoes to our neighbors in need. By buying our hats, coming to our events, volunteering your time to write on the note cards that go into the boot/shoe boxes YOU have changed lives through acts of kindness.
LET’S KEEP IT GOING!! MUCH LOVE AND GOD BLESS!
$25 = One pair of new steel toe boots or non-slip shoes
Write a message
We encourage people to write words of love and encouragement on the notecards we put inside the boot/shoe’s boxes. Although the steel-toe boots and nonslip shoes are the gifts that get those receiving them back into the workforce, the notecards are the real gift.
Anything written on the note is perfect. A picture, an inspirational quote or a signature provides the hope. We have Good Soles notecards designed by forsuchatime.today but any form of paper you have available will work!
EMAIL JEREMY@GOOD-SOLES.ORG FOR MAILING DETAILS
Follow us on social media
We use our social media presence on Facebook and Instagram to update everyone on upcoming events, when we order new hats and shirts, and all the amazing things we are doing in the community. Give us a like and a follow and see how and when you can help us help our neighbors in need!
Click the icons bellow & follow!
Counting Boots
what the community is saying
”The impact of Good Soles goes beyond the thousands of pairs of boots and work shoes Jeremy has provided to Roof Above and other organizations. Good Soles is woven into the fabric of our youth ministry. We have youth that have now started selling jewelry for St. Jude’s hospital or clothes out of their closet for a ministry partner in Mexico, because of Jeremy’s courage to start Good Soles. He has shared that story with our youth many times and now we are starting to see that incredible “love for others” lead to action for our youth because of his example. With every pair of shoes that Good Soles provides, comes hope, change, opportunities and belief that all of us need a chance. We love Good Soles and are so grateful for their impact on our city and how they are inspiring the next generation of church leaders and disciples.”-Jason Rhymer | Director of Youth Ministry
United Methodist Church
The partnership between RunningWorks and Good Soles has been invaluable over the years. To have steel toe work boots and non-slip food service shoes readily accessible to us not only saves us on time and financial resources, but most importantly provides a critical resource to our clients which allows them to find or keep a job to support themselves and their families. Good Soles is a true blessing those we serve!
-Matt Sharp | Chief Operating Officer
RunningWorks