Scarlett Johansson and Wayne Elsey

Wayne Elsey, founder and CEO of Soles4Souls Inc., is reaching out to the media like never before.

In an open letter to the industry (HUDSON’S received an email recently), the international shoe charity is challenging all members of the press to go barefoot for at least four consecutive hours during the organization’s second annual Barefoot Week June 1-7 and report on its effects.

Wow. I can’t go barefoot for a minute without pain! It’s been that way ever since I was a child. Sensitive feet, I guess. But just think of what it must feel like for those who wear no shoes all day.

Barefoot Week is a unique participation program designed by Soles4Souls and adopted by thousands of supporters as a simple way to raise awareness and funds for the charity’s programs. The campaign features hundreds of concurrent shoe drives, fun runs and walkathons, retail trade-in events, concerts, festivals and more throughout the week, culminating in “Barefoot Day” on June 7.

“Our intention is to collect gently worn shoes from closets around the country while also donating brand new shoes to people in need in five U.S. cities: Atlanta, Birmingham, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon,” Wayne says.

Footwear manufacturers and media alike can join supporters like Scarlett Johansson, who previously donated 2000 pairs of new shoes from her own line of Reebok footwear, Antawn Jamison, Jessica Simpson and Luke Perry among many others.

Sounds like it’s time to get your feet moving to Barefoot Week!
-Janet Muniz