Kinder Soles Hosts Shoe Drive Party Plus Wine and Beer Tasting in Asheville, N.C.
Eco-friendly Flip Flop Company Event at Appalachian Vintner will Benefit SoleMates Foundation 


RALEIGH, N.C. (July 19, 2011) – Kinder Soles, a socially responsible flip flop company offering footwear made from recycled materials, is hosting a shoe drive and wine and beer tasting at Appalachian Vintner in Asheville, N.C. On Friday, July 22, 2011 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Kinder Soles will collect gently worn shoes from guests to donate to individuals in need through the company’s newly launched SoleMates Foundation. 

Guests are asked to bring one pair of shoes to benefit SoleMates, and every person that makes a donation will receive $10 off a purchase of Kinder Soles flip flops at the party. Ticket prices are $10, but only $5 for those who bring a pair of shoes to donate, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the SoleMates Foundation. With great food, music and drinks, participating partners include Pisgah Brewing Company, offering a beer and wine tasting for guests; Green Planet Catering, the Triangle’s only sustainable catering company, providing complimentary appetizers; and music provided by DEP. 

“Appalachian Vintner is a beautiful location, and not only is Asheville an awesome city to visit, the people have proven their commitment to being environmentally friendly,” said Mark Saad, co-founder of Kinder Soles and SoleMates. “This will be the first shoe drive to benefit SoleMates since its official launch, so we are especially excited to host it and can’t wait to see everyone there.”

Each pair of Kinder Soles sold provides funds to send footwear to five people in need. The charitable brand launched last year with a flip flop collection that combines classic style with recycled materials and better ergonomics and works to raise awareness of the shoe shortage crisis by hosting events throughout the year. The company is now able to carry out every step of the process, from donation to delivery thanks to the development of the SoleMates Foundation. 

“The foundation gives us the ability to more directly impact those who are in need in our local communities by taking those unused and forgotten shoes hiding in our closets and giving them to those in need,” said Saad.

The Sole Mates Foundation launched last month to increase awareness and raise funds to help the ‘footwear shortage movement’ in the United States and distribute shoes to individuals lacking access to proper footwear. 

For more information about Kinder Soles or SoleMates Foundation, consumers can visit KindersSoles.com or SoleMatesFoundation.org.