Soles4Souls is a global non-profit that distributes shoes and clothing around the world in order to create sustainable jobs and provide relief across the United States and in developing countries. As you are looking for content between the holidays and the start of the new year, here are some ideas on ways people can give back, beginning now and into 2019:
“Get One, Give One”: For every one piece of clothing or accessory you received this Christmas, donate one that’s already in your closet. Soles4Souls and Zappos make it easy to donate your gently used items by offering a prepaid shipping label for every box you want to send in. You can go to zapposforgood.org/give/s4s to get more details.
Give back with your time in 2019: According to the 2018 Employee Benefits Report, nearly 1 in 4 companies are now offering VTO—volunteer time off. And even if your company doesn’t offer this, maybe 2019 is the year to take some time off to do good for others. It’s easy to get involved with Soles4Souls travel program and bring shoes to people in places like Haiti, Guatemala and Honduras.
Make giving a priority: Did you know that $1 is all it takes to provide someone with a new pair of shoes? That means one latte at your local coffee shop could give five pairs of shoes to people in need! Take a look at your spending and see what small change you could make in your life that could make a big impact in someone else’s.
Give away, don’t throw away: The EPA states that only 14% of clothing and footwear in the US is recycled, leaving the remaining 86% in our landfills. Through donations, Soles4Souls was able to keep 5.5 million pounds of textiles out of landfills last year. By giving away your gently used items, you’ll be helping people in need AND the environment.
About Soles4Souls
Soles4Souls is a global non-profit that creates sustainable jobs and provides relief through the distribution of shoes and clothing around the world. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., we repurpose shoes to supply our micro-enterprise, disaster relief and direct assistance programs. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries. To get involved or learn more, visit GiveShoes.org.
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• Robotic breast reconstruction
A robot makes it possible for breast reconstruction surgery to be less invasive and less painful. Women who undergo a mastectomy to remove cancerous tissue or as a preventive measure because of a heightened genetic risk of breast cancer may choose reconstructive surgery. One option is to use their own tissue for the reconstruction, which can achieve a more natural appearance and is a more permanent solution compared with implant-based reconstructive surgeries. Now, surgeons from the University of Pennsylvania are the first in the world to use a surgical robot to assist with a bilateral free flap breast reconstruction, a procedure in which tissue is taken from the lower abdomen, similar to a “tummy tuck,” and used to rebuild the breast. The technique enables surgeons to make a much smaller incision into the abdominal wall muscles, allowing patients to recover and be discharged more quickly and without the use of addictive narcotic painkillers. (EDITORS: Additional information)
• Cancer remission
Updated data from an international trial led by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Abramson Cancer Center shows CAR T cell therapy can lead to long-lasting remission in patients with a certain type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The study found the therapy can be life-saving for patients in whom previous therapies have failed. Earlier results from this trial led to approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Commission, Health Canada, and Swissmedic. (EDITORS: Additional information)
• Virtual reality & opioids
To address the opioid crisis, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Nursing and Annenberg School for Communication have created a seven-minute virtual reality Narcan training session that a recent pilot study showed was as effective as in-person simulation training for health care providers. The FDA-approved nasal spray can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose in less than five minutes. It’s available without a prescription, carried by most major pharmacy chains, and covered by many different types of insurance. But most people don’t know about it or, if they do, they’re unfamiliar with how to use it or what to do after it’s administered. With this new tool, the Penn researchers hope to change that. (EDITORS: Additional information)
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I hope you had a Merry Christmas!
I love this time of year. People are different. It’s not exactly like the Hallmark movies, but there is “something in the air,” as they say. It’s a season of giving.
In that same spirit of giving, I’d like to ask if you’d consider giving a charitable contribution to The Heritage Foundation in order to advance the conservative policies that we both support.
I’m talking about things like individual freedoms, traditional American values, a free market, and smaller government. And maybe we can throw in “peace on earth and goodwill among men” at this time of year as well!
I hope we can count on you to give. A gift of $25 or more will allow you to become an official Heritage member. As a member, you can enjoy special benefits, including unique invitations to conservative gatherings, exclusive updates for Heritage, weekly reports on the impact of your gift, and a membership card.
Please make your tax-deductible donation using this secure link: secured.heritage.org/_2018/end-of-year.
Thanks so much.
Wishing you and yours the very best of the holidays,
Maggy Smith
Membership Programs
The Heritage Foundation
