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Saline, MI — First Presbyterian Church of Saline is thrilled to announce the successful completion of its "Ten2Give" shoe drive in partnership with Soles4Souls, a global nonprofit committed to fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of shoes and clothing.

Over the course of ten months, the church rallied its congregation and the wider Saline community with one bold goal: collect as many shoes as possible to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. Thanks to extraordinary generosity and teamwork, the drive concluded with a total of 10,255 pairs of shoes collected—surpassing all expectations.

“Our hope was to serve in a way that was practical, accessible, and far-reaching,” said Pastor Kimberly Secrist Ashby, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Saline. “The 10,255 pairs of shoes we gathered represent thousands of lives touched—with every pair offering comfort, dignity, or economic opportunity.”

Community Partnerships Made the Difference

Key to the success of the “Ten2Give” campaign were the local organizations and businesses that partnered with the church by hosting public donation boxes. These community partners extended the reach of the drive and made it easy for people throughout Saline and the surrounding area to participate.

Special thanks go to:

  • Quilting Season, Saline
  • Nu2U Again Resale Shop, Saline
  • White Pine Studio, Saline
  • Saline Recreation Center
  • Saline Jazzercise Fitness Center
  • Saline Senior Center
  • Carrigan Café, Saline
  • Saline Area Schools Administrative Office
  • Bethel Church of Manchester
  • Holy Faith Church, Saline
  • Christ Our King Church, Saline
  • Westminster Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor
  • St. James Church of Christ, Saline
  • First United Methodist Church, Saline
  • Saline Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
  • St. Andrew’s Catholic Church, Saline
  • St. Paul United Church of Christ, Saline
  • Dream Maker Kitchen and Bath, Saline

“These partners amplified the mission and made it possible for so many more people to take part,” said Terry Buse, coordinator of the Ten2Give effort. “It was truly a community-wide collaboration.”

A Global Impact

The collected shoes will be delivered to Soles4Souls to support their mission of providing footwear to people in crisis situations and empowering small business owners in developing nations through micro-enterprise programs. Gently used shoes, instead of being discarded into landfills, will now find new purpose—helping lift families out of poverty and keeping children and adults protected and on the move.

This effort reflects First Presbyterian Church of Saline’s strong commitment to meaningful, hands-on mission work—locally and globally.

To learn more about Soles4Souls or find out how to donate or get involved, visit www.soles4souls.org.

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About First Presbyterian Church of Saline 

First Presbyterian Church of Saline is a congregation that seeks to make God’s story our story by joyfully growing in faith and serving in love. Our vision is grounded in our sure faith that God is at work in this congregation and in our world. We are a community that seeks to be relevant, relatable, and inclusive so everyone can experience God’s love and know they belong. In all things- worship, study, fellowship and mission outreach, we seek to be more intentional and focused on spiritual formation and practice. Welcoming, accepting, and affirming all – YOU are welcome to be a part of the journey and the story.

About Soles4Souls

Soles4Souls creates opportunity through shoes and clothing. Our programs, 4Opportunity, 4Relief, 4EveryKid and 4ThePlanet, aim to make a positive difference on the planet and in people's economic, educational, physical, and psychosocial well-being. Since 2006, more than 107 million pairs of shoes and pieces of clothing have helped create opportunities for people in all 50 US states and 139 countries. Soles4Souls is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, with Regional Donation Centers and warehouse locations around the world. Visit soles4souls.org for more information.