The global non-profit Soles4Souls is partnering with the Tennessee Valley Authority to expand their services to rural children in the TVA’s service areas.
Soles4Souls is committed to distributing shoes to children in need, and the partnership is set to enhance the Nashville-based nonprofit’s 4EveryKid program, which is committed to providing a pair of brand-new athletic shoes to students experiencing homelessness across the United States. 4EveryKid partners have reported that 98 percent of their students feel more confident after receiving their shoes, and four in five felt more equal to their peers.
The non-profit, with the help of the TVA, plans to serve school districts in Logan County, Marshall County, Graves County, Simpson County and Cumberland County in Kentucky, along with counties in Tennessee.
The TVA north region covers portions of Tennessee and Kentucky. In some of these rural areas, the rate of students experiencing homelessness is 7.5 percent, which is more than three times the national average of 2.4 percent.
Soles4Souls CEO Buddy Teaster says, “Our partnership with TVA is a powerful example of how we can come together to support children experiencing homelessness across middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Providing new athletic shoes to these kids means we’re not just meeting immediate needs but also helping them feel more confident and ready to succeed in school and beyond.”