The Arlington Heights Park District’s (AHPD) EnviroGroup announced today that the 1st Food for the Soles Drive to warm up tummies and toes this winter, which ended December 5th, collected more than 2,600 pounds of food, and over 1,700 usable pairs of footwear.

The campaign far surpassed the park district’s goal of collecting 1,000 usable pairs of footwear and 1,000 lbs. of food and personal items over a two-month period- Oct. 3 through Dec. 5.

“This would not have been possible without the kindness of residents throughout the community, Sheila Cruz, EnviroGroup member said.  “We are honored to have been able to assist people in need, both locally and globally,” Cruz added. 

“These results are very gratifying, because we’ll be able to help even more families than we anticipated,” said Colleen McCarty, Park Planner I and EnviroGroup member.

She also recognized the organizations that benefited from this effort: 

Lavelle Law, Ltd.: With the help of clients and friends, Lavelle Law Charities launched the Arlington Heights Food Drive to benefit those in need in Wheeling Township.  Their donations and financial support now also allows Lavelle Law to have drop-off locations throughout the Arlington Heights community. 

Share Your Soles Mission:  They provide gently worn/new shoes to those in greatest need around the world.  Strives to ensure that gently worn or new shoes of any kind (boots, slippers, sandals and shoes) are going to people who may have never owned a pair. 

Wheeling Township and Elk Grove Township Food Pantry: Food Pantries are stocked by donations received from the community. Wheeling Township and Elk Grove Village residents who need food due to financial difficulties may use the pantries.

The drive gave residents an easy way to donate food and footwear at Olympic Indoor Swim Center, Forest View Racquet and Fitness Club, the Senior Center, the Administration Center, Camelot, Pioneer, Recreation, and Frontier Community Centers. Customers simply left their donation of non-perishable goods, personal hygiene items or footwear in large collection bins.

The following facilities led the way in collecting the most pounds and pair:

• Frontier Park for the most shoes and food collected

• Administration Center for the most pair of footwear

• Olympic for the most food & personal items collected

EnviroGroup members collected, sorted, then counted the food and evaluated the footwear to ensure they were in usable condition.  Members of the EnviroGroup journeyed to the Share your Soles distribution center on Wednesday, December 14th, where they will distribute them to those in greatest need.

Over 1,700 usable pairs of footwear			Over 2,600 lbs. of food