Contact: Paul Wilson, President of Soles4Souls, 334-863-6628; Michele Silver, K.I.D.S. Director of Communications, 212-279-5493

NEW YORK, July 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- Soles4Souls, the charity that collects and distributes new and used footwear for people in poverty, and Kids in Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) announced today that they were entering into a key alliance. Through this partnership, K.I.D.S. will be able to place specific orders of new and sample footwear for needy children in the United States by need and geographic region.

"This is a great way for us to expand our targeted giving options," said Wayne Elsey, longtime footwear executive and founder of Soles4Souls. "We will now be able to utilize the incredible distribution system that K.I.D.S. has exclusively for distribution of our footwear donations to children across the United States," he said.

Janice Weinman, President of K.I.D.S., which has been operating as a 501(C)(3) for more than 20 years, said that the alliance with Soles4Souls helps to fulfill some objectives for the organization. "We are committed to helping improve the lives of children and their families who are ill, living in poverty, or are the victims of natural disasters," Weinman said. "Soles4Souls will help us establish and open key donation channels from retailers, manufacturers and individuals to fill our footwear needs."

K.I.D.S. distributes new and donated merchandise for children and youth to more than 1,000 non-profit agencies that work with children in poverty-stricken communities, homeless shelters, foster-care facilities, hospitals, AIDS clinics and relief organizations within the United States and abroad. They are affiliated with the World Shoe Association (WSA) and the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA).

"A continual challenge for us is finding community agencies and other foundations that provide the support for infrastructure," said Rick Schaub, Chairman of the Board for K.I.D.S. "Soles4Soles gives our charity more options in delivering on our promise to provide materials and products that children in distressed situations need everyday."

"We are delighted to enter into this partnership with K.I.D.S.," said Paul Wilson, President of Soles4Souls. "They are a very respected organization and their mission is very similar to ours. We believe that by working together, we can impact thousands of hurting children across the country with the gift of new shoes."

Wilson said that the alliance will focus on marketing and distribution, with Soles4Souls collecting footwear through targeted shoe drives, issuing press releases, placing ads in footwear publications, tradeshow appearances, and other various marketing techniques. K.I.D.S. will handle the distribution of the donated footwear by pre-screening social service agencies who request the footwear and placing specific orders through Soles4Souls.

"It's truly a win-win for everyone," Wilson said. "Our ultimate mission is to get the footwear on the feet of hurting children, and the partnership with K.I.D.S. is vital for us to achieve our goal."

About Soles4Soles

Soles4Souls facilitates the donations of shoes, which will be used to aid the hurting worldwide. Shoe companies, retailers, and individuals can donate footwear (both new and used). Soles4Souls is a 501(C)(3) recognized by the IRS and donating parties are eligible for tax advantages. For more information, visit http://www.soles4souls.org/ or call (334) TO-DONATE (334-863-6628).

About K.I.D.S.

Kids In Distressed Situations, Inc. (K.I.D.S.) is a global charity of leading retailers, manufacturers, and licensors of children's and youth products, in partnership with major foundations, committed to helping improve the lives of children and their families who are ill, living in poverty, or are the victims of natural disasters. Since 1985, K.I.D.S. has donated over $500 million worth of merchandise to more than 60 million children in need. For more information, visit http://www.kidsdonations.org/ or call (212) 279-5493.