Distribution can bring problems The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee) December 20, 2009 Sunday
Copyright 2009 The Tennessean
All Rights Reserved
The Tennessean (Nashville, Tennessee)
December 20, 2009 Sunday
SECTION: NEWS
LENGTH: 368 words
HEADLINE: Distribution can bring problems
By Brad Schrade and Andy Humbles
THE TENNESSEAN
Soles4Souls operates its shoe charity as a middleman, securing donations from companies and individuals and relying mostly on partners to distribute the footwear around the world.
The charity at times has wrestled with problems in that distribution network.
Soles4Souls a year ago filed a federal lawsuit against one of its partners, Gleaning For The World, a Virginia-based charity that provides food, clothing and medical supplies to the needy worldwide.
The suit claims Soles4 Souls donated about 16,000 pairs of shoes from Minnetonka Moccasin Co. to Gleaning, at least some of which ended up being sold on eBay.
The suit claims Gleaning For The World sold or transferred shoes to an agency called For the Kids International and James Hughes without consent from Soles4Souls as stipulated in its contract.
Gleaning For The World President Ronald T. Davidson says the case continues to find more who were involved.
"I'm surprised we're still involved because we were the ones who were hit, but I'm not disappointed Soles4Souls is continuing to work on it," Davidson said.
Part of learning
Last spring, Soles4Souls discovered problems with a 170,000-pair shipment intended for Haiti. Some of the shoes ended up back on the market. Soles4Souls doesn't know if any were actually sold.
Soles4Souls turned the case over to Florida authorities, who are investigating, according to the charity's chief financial officer, Kevin Goughary. Four of nine trailers of shoes are not fully accounted for because of problems with one of its distribution partners, he said.
Soles4Souls' attorney also has sent cease-and-desist letters to people operating under the guise they were affiliated with Soles4Souls.
Wayne Elsey, Soles' chief executive and board chairman, said the problems have been part of the learning process, and the organization has tightened its agreements with partners and now requires more proof to ensure the shoes get to their intended spots.
"When I started this I thought everybody was honest," Elsey said. "It ain't the case."
Brad Schrade can be reached at 615-259-8086 or bschrade@
tennessean.com.
Andy Humbles can be reached at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939.
