MANCHESTER, Conn. (Jan. 18, 2011) – Manchester Running Company has announced its plans to team with Soles4Souls to host a Shoe Drive in conjunction with the Third Annual Finally Spring 5k! on March 19, 2o11 at Highland Park School and Howard/Porter Reservoir in Manchester.  MRC has also pledged that it will donate 20 pairs of new shoes to the cause.

Manchester Running Company would like to encourage all participants and others to donate new or “gently worn” shoes on March 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Simply drop off your shoes in the Soles4Souls bin at the race to help us meet our goal of at least 75 pairs of donated shoes by the end of the day. The 2010 event saw 70 pairs of shoes donated.

Manchester Running Company will also be accepting donations for Soles4Souls at the Finally Spring 5k! All shoe and monetary donations are tax deductible.

“We can use the shoes taking up space in your closet to change the world one pair at a time,” said Wayne Elsey, Founder and CEO of Soles4Souls.  ”We need our partners in Manchester to ‘STEP UP’ and get behind our call to action.  It’s one of the most simple yet profound gifts you can make, because it will greatly improve someone’s life in the most difficult of times,” he said.

“We have a goal of donating at least $5,000 through the Finally Spring 5k!, be it through shoe donations or monetary gifts” said Patrick Byrne, MRC’s Co-Owner.  ”We look forward to seeing just how generous the running community can be through our initiatives and hopefully the 20 pairs we donate will only be a small part of the donation to Soles4Souls.”

Manchester Running Company will also take shoe donations for the week leading up to the Finally Spring 5k! and interested donors may email manchesterrunningcompany@gmail.com.