*** NEWS RELEASE ***

For Immediate Release
July 27, 2010

Pawnshops First To See After Effects of Oil Spill

Shoes 2 Share Hosts 1st Annual Walk-a-thon to Raise Funds for Devastated Gulf Residents on Patriot Day

Wilmington, Del. Pawnshops are normally some of the first businesses to see the struggles of residents after they experience devastation from disasters and this holds true with the residents in and near the Gulf of Mexico who are dealing with the BP oil spill.

It is apparent that people are hurting financially based on what they selling: diamonds and priceless artifacts. The economy in that area has taken a hard hit and this is only the beginning.  Of course, the recent BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill has destroyed tourism to this area as well.  Oil spill effects have begun to penetrate deep into the surrounding environments and the economy and this will only worsen over time. The journey to recovery will be a long process.

Residents of all ages in Delaware are energetically gathering and forming teams to take part in the Shoes 2 Shares Walk-a-thon on September 11 to help raise funds and supplies for those in the Gulf.  Walkers will not only honor and remember the 2,993 American patriots killed on September 11, 2001, but will also gather to raise awareness and funds for the direct needs of other veterans and those around the U.S. who have suffered devastation and loss due to disasters such as the Gulf oil spill. 

Tim Wampler, president of Shoes 2 Share International says that, Americans must stand together and be united, in order to face all the trials and tribulations of the present and future.  Our Servicemen have united to protect us and we want to honor them.  They are a great model for the rest of us to follow to unite to help those who have suffered devastation and loss in America.

Previously, many organizations, schools, hospitals, corporations, churches and neighborhoods have come together with the Tim and Rhonda Wampler, co-founders of Shoes 2 Share, to collect thousands of pairs of shoes.  Shoes 2 Share International hopes that the whole state of Delaware and surrounding states will take on the challenge to collect shoes and care for other Americans by congregating at Christiana Mall on Patriot Day, Sunday, September 11, 2010.

In order to participate in Shoes 2 Shares Delaware Walk-For-Shoes, participants should:

1. Visit www.shoes2share.com

2. Register by filling out a Team Captain or Walkers form

3. Set a goal to raise a certain monetary amount for Shoes 2 Share

4. Collect New and like new shoes and monetary donations

5. Walk 2 miles on Patriot Day in remembrance of those who need shoes

Location:  Christiana Mall at Nordstrom Court
  132 Christiana Mall
  Newark, Delaware 19702

Though Delaware is hosting Shoes 2 Shares first Walk-a-thon, other states residents can host a Walk-a-thon of their own. Shoes 2 Share invites everyone on September 11, 2010 to commence on their own Walk-a-thon whether it is in their neighborhood, local park, or even on their treadmill and send all shoes and donations to Shoes 2 Share International, Warehouse & Office, 416 B and O Lane, Wilmington, DE 19804. Shoes should be new or like new and including a couple of shoe bucks for shipping makes the donation complete.

Shoes 2 Share International is a ministry that collects donated shoes for poverty-stricken communities around the world. The organization was founded by Tim and Rhonda Wampler and has collected hundreds of thousands of pounds of footwear for communities worldwide. The Wamplers began the ministry after witnessing the extreme poverty of Haiti while adopting their children from the country in 2003.

Since January, Shoes 2 Share has worked with over 300 schools, churches, businesses, corporations, service organizations and government entities to collect and send shoes, as well as food, infant supplies, medical items, toiletries, generators, tarps and tents to Haiti. With the addition of Liberia and West Africa, they now work with 18 other countries around the globe, which also includes work here in the backyards of America.

For more information about Shoes 2 Share International, visit www.shoes2share.com or call 302-993-1234.

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Shoes 2 Share International is a ministry that collects donated shoes for poverty-stricken communities around the world. The organization founded by Tim and Rhonda Wampler has collected hundreds of thousands of pounds of footwear for communities worldwide. The Wamplers began the ministry after witnessing the extreme poverty of Haiti while adopting their children from the country in 2003.

Realizing that lack of shoes can lead to disease and even death due to contaminated soil from sewage and a variety of other factors, Shoes 2 Share has worked with over 300 schools, churches, businesses, corporations, service organizations and government entities to collect and send shoes, as well as food, infant supplies, medical items, toiletries, generators, tarps and tents to communities in the United States, and 18 other countries around the globe.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2010/07/25/gps.what.world.7.25.cnn?iref=allsearch