Learn More About Our Iowa Partner
Learn More About Our Iowa Partner
Village Northwest Unlimited serves as a donation processing center for Soles4Souls. VNU currently offers a wide array of services and training to more than 180 individuals with disabilities. The individuals have varying degrees of disabilities including intellectual disabilities, brain injury, cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, epilepsy, and range from ages 17 to 80.
Soles4Souls is excited about the partnership with VNU, which will provide upper Midwest donors a more convenient and cost-effective alternative to shipping to Alabama. VNU is proud to offer Soles4Souls a place to ship and store their donations, while giving disabled individuals the opportunity to participate in the impact Soles4Souls is having around the world.
Barry Whitsell, President and CEO of Village Northwest Unlimited said, “VNU is excited to begin this partnership with Soles4Souls and allow the people that we serve to give back to society by being able to provide shoes to those less fortunate around the world. Soles4Souls is distributing a pair of shoes every 9 seconds around the world and to be a part of improving another human being’s life is what VNU is all about,” he said.
VNU will also actively engage churches and organizations in their area, allowing Soles4Souls to have a more prominent presence in the region, while being beneficial to the development of life skills for the individuals served by VNU’s program.
“Historically, these individuals have been marginalized by society and treated as second class citizens,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls, Inc. “Our goal is to include them in our process and allow them to be part of our team. We couldn’t think of a better group of people to partner with in helping to change the world.”
VNU clientele will receive the donated footwear, sort into specific categories, and make it ready for shipment to the main Soles4Souls outreach distribution center. This step will make the Alabama facility much more efficient in responding to needs in the U.S. and overseas. In return, Soles4Souls will pay VNU a certain amount per pair of shoes processed.
Leanr more about Village Northwest at www.villagenorthwest.org.
