Cresson, Pa. - The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at Mount Aloysius College has invited the entire community to donate shoes, old or new, to help those in need around the world. The Mount Aloysius athletes will be managing their shoe drive until the end of the semester and benefactors can drop off donations at Cosgrave Center or several other locations on campus. Mount Aloysius athletes have teamed up with Soles 4 Souls, Inc. for the effort. Soles 4 Souls is an international relief organization founded after the tsunami struck Southeast Asia in 2004. The group was also active after the Katrina Hurricane devastated the Gulf Coast and remains active globally.

Mount Aloysius President Tom Foley noted that the SAAC effort is part of a deep tradition of service at the College. “Just last semester many outstanding community service projects took place on campus,” he said. “From early September through the Holiday Season, a full 50 percent of our students were involved in some form of community service work, donating nearly 5,000 hours of service to 130 organizations.” President Foley added, “The student athletes at Mount Aloysius are consistently active in giving support back to the community.”

MAC Assistant Athletic Director Brianna Baker commended the MAC athletes' shoe drive and urged the community to help out.  “This is a much needed project that our athletes are spearheading,” she said. “Often, in the aftermath of a disaster, something as simple as making sure people have proper footwear is overlooked. We know this effort will be successful.”

Soles4Souls receives large donations from footwear companies, retailers, churches, nonprofit ministries, civic groups, schools, and individuals.Mount Aloysius SAAC will be collecting new or used shoes and giving them to Soles 4 Souls for worldwide distribution. Donations can be made through Ms. Brianna Baker, assistant athletic director and SAAC advisor. Should anyone have questions about the effort they should contact Ms. Baker at (814) 886-65628.

CAPTION: Getting ready to set up shoe collection boxes throughout the Mount Aloysius College campus, standing, from left, are: Students John Wiley and Lauren Oldham; Mount Aloysius President Tom Foley; Assistant Athletic Director and SAAC Advisor, Brianna Baker with students, Luca Farina and Tonya Bibby. Kneeling, from left are: Mount Aloysius Students, Teddi Burkett and Chelsea Perehinec.