SNEAKERS WITH SOUL

Description

Sneakers with Soul(r) (SwS) began its mission in 2010 as an outreach ministry of Manchester UMC in Manchester, MO. Since 2010, over 14,150 pairs of new sneakers/athletic shoes have been donated to children and youth living in poverty in the greater St. Louis area. In 2017, founder and president, Maurice Parisien formed a 501(c)(3) to be able to significantly impact the work of the agency. In addition to the donations of new shoes, Sneakers with Soul(r) has positively impacted the lives of volunteers by bringing them face-to-face in mission with parents/guardians and children in need to make a positive difference in the lives of both the giver, and the recipient of new shoes.

HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS:

• In October 2017, Sneakers with Soul (r) was established as a stand-alone, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with IRS tax-exempt status (EIN# 82-3051919).
• Sneakers with Soul (r) operates as an all-volunteer nonprofit organization staffed by its founder and president along with a treasurer and a 6-member board of directors. Additionally, donors and volunteers from participating churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship have come together with social service agencies to contribute and distribute donated new sneakers.
• Since becoming a 501(c)(3), Sneakers with Soul (r) has expanded its social services agency relationships with two additional agencies to expand its ability to impact more lives.